• It’s a Job Worth Doing is the theme of the Reserves campaign.
• Over 80 Reserves have gone on to train as full-time Gardaí since 2017.

An Garda Síochána has today launched its latest Garda Reserve recruitment campaign which seeks to expand this voluntary programme to 1,000 by 2026. They are now inviting applications from those aged 18 to 60.

Garda Reserves are voluntary members of An Garda Síochána and are placed in communities and work to assist An Garda Síochána with local patrols and crime reduction initiatives.

They also assist in policing major incidents and events, and provide operational support to Gardaí on the basis of the Garda Reserve’s skills or local knowledge.

Through this campaign, members of the public are afforded the opportunity to develop hands-on policing experience, and to serve their communities by giving back to their own locality.

Among the ways Reserves do this is through community engagement activities, traffic management, attending major events, carrying out administrative duties, and providing general support to full-time Gardaí.

While service in the Garda Reserve is voluntary and unpaid, subject to certain conditions, an allowance is payable by the Commissioner to Garda Reserve in respect of expenses incurred in performing their duties. This had been €1,000 per 12-month period.

However, from June 1, 2024, this stipend is set to increase with the following now available to reserves in respect of hours completed:

• 50 hours completed - €500 stipend
• 100 hours completed - €1,000 stipend
• 200 hours completed - €2,000 stipend
• 200 hours or above - €3,000 stipend.

Anyone interested in volunteering to work in their local community is being encouraged to apply prior to 3pm July 4.

For more information and to apply see https://garda.ie/en/careers/garda-reserve/