Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 May 2018
68. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of serving gardaí who have completed the competency based driving, CPD2, driving courses; if he is satisfied an adequate number of gardaí have this training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22683/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who has statutory responsibility for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána including training and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. It is important to say that members of An Garda Síochána undertake a wide variety of roles that require different skill sets and different kinds of training including, for example, in relation to child protection, crime scene examination, cybercrime and so forth. It is not necessary for every member to be skilled in every area of policing. In the case of advanced driving skills, not all members are required to drive on a daily basis or to have the capacity to respond emergency response calls in a high speed vehicle.
Responsibility for training lies with the Garda College and the Divisional Continuing Professional Development Schools under the overall responsibility of the Executive Director for Human Resources and People Development and I am informed by the Garda authorities that following a review of its driver training programmes in 2009, An Garda Síochána introduced 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 members undergoing the relevant training. The review was informed by the Garda Inspectorate’s report into roads policing. I understand that CBD Level 2 is a three week course and enables those members who successfully complete the course to drive the majority of patrol cars and public order vans available to them. I am advised by the Commissioner that since 2009 in the region of 2,700 members have successfully completed this level of training course. This figure does not include those who would have completed driver training prior to the introduction of the new competency based driving programme.
Members who successfully complete level 2 or higher are permitted to engage in answering emergency response calls and may avail of exemptions under the Road Traffic Legislation where necessary and safe to do so. In addition, where exceptional circumstances arise which require a subject vehicle to be detained, these members may engage in tactical resolution to stop the vehicle where authorised to do so by the relevant Garda communications room.
The Deputy will be aware that under this Government's programme of accelerated recruitment, just under 1,800 new recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014. I am informed by the Commissioner that this welcome increase in the strength of the Garda rank together with some 2,000 new vehicles coming on stream in the period 2013 to 2017 has resulted in a continuous demand for driver training courses. While this has resulted in some delays in the provision of training courses, I have no information to suggest that it has affected the capacity of An Garda Síochána to respond to incidents as required.
I am advised that Garda management are conducting a review to identify how the delivery of the current driver training system can be improved. I understand that consultations have taken place with the PSNI and other police services to identify best practice with regard to models of training. Pending the outcome of this review I am advised that places on driving courses will continue to be allocated on a scheduled basis with priority being given where there is an immediate operational demand for drivers in a Division or Unit.
