An Garda Síochána

Thursday, 2 February 2023

Ceisteanna (362)

Pauline Tully

Ceist:

362. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí who have successfully completed the competency-based driving level 3 course by rank in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5298/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.

As you will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the arrangement of training of its members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. As you will recall, I had sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.

I am informed that the allocation of training courses is on a divisional basis with Garda Members selected by local management.

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 CBD Level 3 course is aimed towards 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 by the Garda authorities, shows the number of Garda members, by rank, who have completed the CBD Level 3 course for the years requested by the Deputy.

Year	Garda	Sergeant
2021	28	2
2022	27	5
2023 (as of 27/02/2023)	7	1

I hope that this information is of assistance.

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice

I have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy. Regrettably this information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy again once the information is to hand.