Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with both Deputies. It is absolutely vital that people at senior levels, such as sergeants, inspectors, superintendents, chief superintendents and those at the top or the higher end of the organisation, have the ability to lead and have those qualities and skills. Members often have to make split-second decisions. Obviously, this is easier for those who have the training and have gone through the motions. Leadership training is being developed and delivered. It is looked at in a number of ways but there are taught phases and experiential phases also. There are blended modules, which involve people doing in-class learning while also taking on board practical experience. For any type of leadership training, it cannot just involve sitting in front of a computer. That does not work. There has to be practical experience too. There is always more we can do. There is a training budget and it has increased. The Deputy is correct when he says we need to have full oversight of how it is working and where it can be improved. There is more work that can be done. I accept it is something that should and could be done.

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