As you may be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.
I have been informed that Garda College only delivers Vehicle Stopping Devices (Stinger) Instructor Courses at a national level to Garda Members based in each division. Members who receive this course are then qualified to act as instructors on the use of stinger devices who then train members as required within their Divisions.
The table below gives details of the Vehicle Stopping Devices (Stinger) Instructor Courses delivered by the Garda College to Roads Policing Units in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR).
Year
|
No. of courses
|
No. trained
|
Duration
|
2023
|
2
|
22
|
2 days
|
2024
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
n/a
|
As the Vehicle Stopping Devices (Stinger) User Courses are then delivered by these Divisional Instructors to members of Road Policing Units in the DMR, the records of those retained within each Division are retained at a Divisional level.
This data was correct and up to date as of 8 April 2024.