Garda Training

Tuesday, 3 November 2020

Questions (1078)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

1078. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 280 of 2 October 2018, the level of firearm training provided to armed Garda personnel in each of the years 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020; the number of gardaí by grade or rank with firearms training; the type of weapon they are trained to carry and-or use; the company engaged to provide training; and the cost of training annually. [33756/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including by arranging for the training of its members and civilian staff and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

I have requested information from the Garda Commissioner in relation to this matter but it was unfortunately not possible to compile it in the time available.

I will write to the Deputy directly with the information requested when it is available.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to Parliamentary Question Number 1078 which was for answer on 3 November 2020, where you requested the level of firearm training provided to armed Garda personnel in each of the years 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020; the number of Gardaí by grade or rank with firearms training; the type of weapon they are trained to carry and/or use; the company engaged to provide training; and the cost of training on an annual basis.

You will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available and Minister McEntee undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and contact you again when the information was available. The delay in responding is regretted.

As I am sure you will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including by arranging for the training of its members and civilian staff and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the tables included in the attached appendix set out the number of firearms training places taken up by Garda members from 2018 up to 24 June 2021, and the number of members trained by rank for the same period.

I am further advised that a total of 2,801 Firearms Authorisation Cards were allocated to Divisions in 2021 which are then issued by Chief Superintendents on a Divisional basis. This number can increase/decrease depending on operational requirements. These firearms authorisation cards cater for all ranks of Gardaí who carry firearms.

Members attached to regular units and Detective units are trained in handguns only, namely Smith & Wesson revolver, Sig Sauer P226 & Walther semi-automatic pistol.

Specialist Units such as Emergency Response Unit and the Armed Support Unit are trained in Sig Sauer Pistol, H&K MP7 Sub-machine gun, Taser and 40mm direct impact munitions (Less Lethal options).

Training is provided by Firearms Instructors attached to the Garda College and S.T.O.C. under the governance of the Director of Training, Garda College.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the estimated Garda College expenditure for Firearms Training is as follows:

2018 - €169,946

2019 - €394,206

2020 - €421,087

2021 - €120,751

These costs are estimated and do not reflect the overall cost to the organisation of Firearms Training

I am further advised that there is no system in place to extrapolate expenditure related to individual training courses. The 2018, 2019, 2020 annual costs are estimated from the AGS Discoverer Reporting System. 2021 overall cost to date is estimated from an internal system used in the Garda College Finance Office, along with the Discoverer Reporting System.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Appendix

			Overall number of firearms training places taken up by members each year
2018	2019	2020	2021 (24.06.2021)
11,296	8,435	13,520	4947

					Number of members trained each year by rank*
Year	Garda	Sergeant	Inspector	Superintendent	Chief Supt
2018	9755	1439	82	14	6
2019	7247	1097	65	22	4
2020	11483	1876	130	25	6
2021 (24.06.2021)	4271	652	17	7	0

*These figures refer to the number of members that attended firearms training. Some members have attended multiple firearms training courses.