asked the Minister for Justice whether men recruited for the new special armed branch of the Gárda are not required to serve any preliminary training in police duties or in the use of arms before being sent out on duty, and whether previous membership of the I.R.A. is regarded as an indispensable qualification for membership of this new force; and if he will state the actual weekly cost to the State of each member of this force.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Training of Recruits.
Recruits for the Gárda Síochána receive such training as is deemed necessary to enable them to discharge their duties efficiently.
The answer to the second portion of the question is in the negative.
The pay and allowances of all members of the Gárda Síochána are governed by the statutory Pay and Allowances Orders, to which I would refer the Deputy.
Then I am to take it that there is no extra pay given to these men outside their ordinary statutory pay?
No.
With regard to the period of training, one of these Guards swore recently that he was in New York on the 2nd August and in the Broy Harriers on the 9th August. He could not have had much training.
A Guard swore in a recent case that he was recruited and joined the force on the 9th September, and that he was on duty with a gun in his pocket on the 20th September.
Rather intensive training, I agree.