Ms Tara McManus:

That would primarily be done by the community police. It is one of the jobs that are assigned to community police and a specific training programme, known as the schools programme, is in place. There is a schools programme aimed at primary school level, one aimed at secondary school level and another one aimed at third level colleges. We are primarily relying on the community garda to undertake such programmes, but we have just spoken all afternoon about the role of the community garda having been significantly eroded as a result of the operational policing model. Unfortunately, then, these programmes are just not happening as often as they should. They are being undertaken, but probably in the bigger stations in the bigger urban areas. In local districts and local stations, it is not happening simply because community gardaí are practically non-existent, and if they do exist, they do not have time. It is such a pity because it is such an important role..

Kids always come home and talk about how excited they were when the gardaí came into the school but it is just not happening as often as it should.