Gardaí have appealed for applications from members of the public to join the garda reserve as part of an expansion of the voluntary programme.
An Garda Síochána said anyone aged between 18 and 60 is eligible to apply.
The aim is to increase the Garda Reserve to 1,000 by 2026.
Garda Reserves are voluntary members of An Garda Síochána and complete a variety of roles, including carrying out local community 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.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said: “We are eager to encourage greater representation from minority communities in our Garda Reserves, and so I am hopeful that this recruitment campaign will result in communities being served by a diverse cohort of Garda Reserves into the future”.
Many members of the reserve use the experience to go on and apply to become a full time member of An Garda Síochána.
Speaking this morning at the launch of the campaign at Garda headquarters, recent recruits cited a desire to give back to the community as a driving factor to join.
They said while the role can be challenging it is also a rewarding experience.
