Mr. John O'Driscoll:

Training is undoubtedly a huge challenge. When people of our vintage joined An Garda Síochána, there was a law book which was a certain size where now one has tiers of books. While we are talking about the internet and cybercrime, much of the training can now be delivered in a different format. Apart from training, there is also access to others within the organisation through the garda portal, for instance. For instance, I was in charge of a unit in human trafficking where we put our documents on the portal and advised people as we trained them that there were documents on the specific types of trafficking cases. Similarly in this area, the portal has become a significant resource which is accessed by members daily. All the headquarters directives and training material can be made available there. The fact that the garda training college was closed for several years during the recession means that it is taking time to get through all the various types of training that must be developed and delivered to people within the organisation. We have a huge number of new recruits coming in, I think some 800 are promised next year, all of whom will get the up-to-date training.

On the civilian input, we have a Government undertaking that there will be 500 additional civilian staff next year. Special crime operations to which I am attached has already submitted its business case and is developing others. In relation to the cybercrime bureau there are already considerations regarding specific expertise and as I understand they are ready to go in the recruitment of personnel. Mr. Daly might be able to identify the types of areas in his unit where they have sought civilian input, in addition to which there will be direct civilian input through Tusla, with its staff in the bureau in the future.