Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
866. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the estimated cost of training an additional 200 gardaí in the competency-based driver level 3 Course in 2024, 2025 and 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14201/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, by law, for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister I play no role in the training of Garda members, or in arrangements for such training.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that in the Garda College 2024 Training Plan, there are seven CBD3 Courses scheduled with eight participants per Course. Therefore 56 participants will be detailed to attend CBD3 training this year.
Training takes place in the Garda College and is a three week course.
In order to train an additional 200 Gardaí per year in 2024, 2025 and 2026, this would require the Garda College to run a further 25 courses per year with eight participants per course.
The Overtime and Travel and Subsistence cost for this additional training is estimated at €42,775 per year. There would also be associated fleet costs, for which an estimate is unavailable.
Outside of the additional costs to run this training, I am further advised that it would not be possible for the Garda College to run this additional training with its current resources and delivery method. If this training was to proceed it would be at the expense of CBD2 training places which have been deemed an organisational training need priority.
