Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2023
491. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the percentage of gardaí adequately trained to engage in high-speed pursuit of vehicles in each Garda district within the DMR, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9756/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including any matters relating to the training of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
An Garda Síochána have advised that it is not possible to provide figures in the manner in which they are sought, as records are not kept in a way to allow the extraction of this information.
The Deputy will be however interested to know, in 2009, the structure of driving training courses was changed to a Competency Based Driving model with a number of levels from basic non-response driving functions to higher skill-set driving based on the Roadcraft system of driving, including emergency response driving.
The Competency Based Driving Level 2 (CBD2) is a three week Competency Based Driving Course aimed at front-line Garda Drivers. This course contains Road Craft and emergency response driving.
The CBD Level 3 (CBD3) course, is two weeks in duration and is aimed at specialist units who have, by their role, a requirement for a higher skill set including a need to drive higher powered vehicles.
The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of Gardaí by division in the DMR who successfully completed training in CBD2 and CBD3 over the past three years:
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|||||
|
CBD2 |
CBD3 |
CBD2 |
CBD3 |
CBD2 |
CBD3 |
Total |
|
|
DMR East |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
3 |
23 |
|
DMR West |
6 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
17 |
2 |
28 |
|
DMR North Central |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
13 |
3 |
22 |
|
DMR South Central |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
16 |
6 |
26 |
|
DMR South |
3 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
15 |
3 |
23 |
|
DMR North |
4 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
18 |
6 |
32 |
|
DMR Traffic |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
8 |
|
Specialist Units |
1 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
13 |
|
Total |
175 |
I am advised that these details do not take account of any members who have been promoted, transferred or retired.
