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An Garda Síochána

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022

Tuesday, 22 March 2022

Ceisteanna (763)

Ivana Bacik

Ceist:

763. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí who have attended a human trafficking training course in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14544/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.

I have been advised by the Garda authorities that no specialised human trafficking training was delivered in 2021 or to date in 2022, owing to restrictions in the availability of the Garda College, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A review of specialist Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs) training is presently underway, which is intended to be rolled out in 2022. This training incorporates human trafficking among other modules such as Sexual Crime Investigation, Victims Engagement, Domestic Abuse Intervention, Online Child Exploitation and Investigation Sex Offender Management. The content and mechanics of this training are currently being developed with continued liaison between the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) and the Garda College.

Additionally, I am advised that human trafficking training is delivered within the Children First module, as part of Phase I of Garda training within the BA in Applied Policing programme. Children First Training is now completed by way of a two-day workshop and it is mandatory for all Trainee Gardaí to receive this training. Due to Covid-19 restrictions and closures of the Garda College to comply with public health guidelines, delivery of this training was not undertaken in 2020. The completion date of the course for each Garda trainee intake impacted by the closures and subsequent intakes is outlined in the table below.

Intake of Gardaí

Gardaí who completed

Children First training

Date

193

183

10/09/2021

201

121

23/04/2021

202

69

11/06/2021

203

75

05/08/2021

211

148

14/01/2022 & 21/01/2022

212

71

11/03/2022

Total

667

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