Recruitment for the new Garda Reserve began yesterday with 414 telephone applications received by 5pm. Advertisements for the Garda Reserve were published in the national media despite the continuing opposition of the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors.
The recruitment drive is for 900 positions in the reserve force and is being run in conjunction with advertisements seeking full-time Garda trainees.
A Department of Justice spokeswoman said they looked at figures up to 5 pm yesterday to study the indications.
By that time, 414 applications for the Garda Reserve had been made by telephone. There were also 734 online applications for both the reserve and Garda trainee positions but these had not been broken down, she said.
"There seems to be a lot of interest in the posts," she said.
The advertisement for the Garda Reserve specifies that applicants must be aged 18 to 60 and be willing to give four hours a week to the service of the community. Fluency in English or Irish is required.
Other requirements as listed in the recruitment website include the applicant being in good physical and mental health as certified by a medical practitioner and specifications of the number of years residency in the State for those born in another country.
There are certain restrictions for admission, including those holding a certificate, licence or permit under the licensing or betting acts or laws relating to places of public entertainment, members of the Defence Forces, officers of the court, probation and welfare service, bailiffs, prison officers, practising barristers or solicitors, those providing security services or serving summonses part-time.
If an application is accepted, the selection process will include an interview and or other selection tests deemed appropriate.
About 1,000 full-time members are being sought in the latest round with the first of these to enter training at the Garda College, Templemore, in February.
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has said reservists could be deployed on a wide range of duties as long as they are under the supervision of a superior officer. They did not have to be in the company of full-time members. Reservists can be deployed on the streets under the supervision of a superintendent in a nearby Garda station.
An AGSI spokesman said yesterday they would not be making any comment on the regulations at present, which is also the position of the GRA.
Both organisations have been vehemently opposed to the Garda Reserve and plan to render it unworkable by instructing members not to co-operate.
Reservists will be on probation for at least two years. Training will be divided into five phases, including 56 hours of training in laws on assault, road traffic offences, powers of arrest, instruction in self-defence and 40 hours of work experience.