Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:342. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice how many Gardaí in Galway City and County have completed the CBD level 1 and CBD level 2 driver training course. [8896/24]
View answerTuesday, 27 February 2024
Questions (342, 343)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:343. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice how many gardaí do not have any formal driver training in Galway City and County. [8897/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 343 together.
As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including the training of its members and civilian staff. I, as Minister, have no role in the matter.
I am informed by the Commissioner that there is a five-level suite of competency based driving (CBD) courses, with each level specifically catering for the required knowledge base, skill set and operational requirements of Garda members.
CBD Level 1 consists of a one-day assessment programme. Members who successfully complete CBD Level 1 will be deemed competent to carry out non-response driving functions and routine driving functions commensurate to the role.
CBD Level 2 is a two-week Competency Based Driving Course aimed at frontline Garda Drivers. This course contains Road Craft techniques and emergency response driving.
CBD Level 3 is an addition to the CBD2 course and is of three weeks in duration. This course has a requirement for a higher skillset of driving to facilitate the driving of higher powered vehicles. I am advised that Competency Based Driving Level 3 is the highest level of training given to operational members.
The more specialised levels CBD4 and CBD5 are only delivered to members undergoing the selection process to become Garda Driving Instructors.
With respect to the specific information requested by the Deputy, I have been informed that there are currently 12 Garda members, which also includes Probationer Gardaí, who do not have any formal driver training in the Galway Division.
I am further informed that, in 2023 in the Galway Division, 27 Garda members completed CBD Level 1 and 21 completed CBD Level 2. To date in 2024, fewer than 10 Garda members in the Galway Division completed CBD Levels 1 or 2.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the allocations of training courses are on a divisional basis with Garda Members selected by local management.
Question No. 343 answered with Question No. 342.