Dáil debates
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
Adjournment Debate
Garda Training
11:00 pm
Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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The Garda college in Templemore, County Tipperary, is probably one of the best police academies in the Europe if not the world. In an effort to accommodate the increasing numbers of recruits who were attending the college some years ago, a number of facilities were removed in order to put in place an accommodation block. The facilities to which I refer were used for the purposes of skills training and included a streetscape that was used as a firing range and to train officers in dealing with public order offences.
Unfortunately, the Garda SÃochána is not recruiting at present. However, in 2006 the authorities in Templemore had the foresight to purchase a plot of land some miles from the college, on which facilities similar to those to which I refer were to be put in place. In the interim, the lands to which I refer have lain idle and the necessary facilities have not been put in place. The terrain at the site in question is particularly suited to training officers to use four-wheel-drive vehicles. The plot in question incorporates a mixture of terrains, including ordinary land, forestry and an area of bog. The authorities at the Garda college are of the view that it would be suited to accommodating an automated firearms range for the purposes of training.
The relevant facilities have not yet been put in place. If a streetscape such as that which previously existed were put in place, officers could be trained to deal with bank robberies, etc. With a little effort and a modicum of investment, the facilities to which I refer could be provided. Such a project would not have to be completed immediately and could proceed on a staged basis.
Will the Government provide the funding necessary to ensure the skills of members of the Garda SÃochána remain at the required level? Will it provide the facilities to which I refer and which, sadly, are not currently available? The authorities at the college have put forward a plan in respect of this matter and the Office of Public Works has been working on this for a number of years. All that is missing is investment on the part of the Government. What would be involved would be an industrial-type development and the provision of some sheds. The terrain could be developed to allow for training in the handling of four-wheel-drive vehicles on normal land and through wooded areas. Will the Minister of State indicate when the required investment will be made in order that the Garda SÃochána will retain its place as one of the finest police forces in the world? There is no question that it is one of the finest forces in Europe. I ask that the investment to which I refer be provided.
Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, to which I will respond on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern.
The Garda college is the national centre for police education and development in this country. It provides a total of 280 training courses, programmes and training interventions annually. In 2010, in excess of 13,000 members of An Garda SÃochána participated in programmes at the college. The Garda College provides a significant four-wheel-drive training programme for the organisation, utilising a number of locations throughout the State including Templemore, certain military lands and the site referred to which the Deputy refers. The provision of a dedicated four-wheel-drive training circuit at this site is currently being examined by An Garda SÃochána.
The Garda authorities have advised that extensive public order training is provided to members of the force by means of a multi-phase approach. This is done within the student-probationer programme, within divisions for public order teams, at operational command level for inspectors and superintendents and for public order instructors. In addition, the Garda authorities have confirmed that there has been considerable investment in the provision of firearms training facilities for members of the force in recent years. This investment has included the provision of two prefabricated modular firearms ranges, one at the Garda college and the other in the Dublin metropolitan region. These ranges are designed to facilitate live fire shooting in a carefully contained environment which adheres to all range safety requirements.
A number of firearms automated training system units are also utilised by An Garda SÃochána. These have proven to be a very successful and have facilitated the development of tactical firearms training as well as traditional marksmanship training in a non-live fire environment. An Garda SÃochána also has access to a number of Army ranges.
In late 2006, the Office of Public Works purchased the site referred to by the Deputy on behalf of An Garda SÃochána for use as a long-term practical training centre. I am advised by the Garda authorities that plans for the further development of this site are currently being refined by the Office of Public Works. The provision of Garda accommodation, including training facilities, is progressed on the basis of An Garda SÃochána's identified accommodation priorities. The further development of this site will be progressed on the basis of these priorities and in the context of available resources. The Garda authorities have reported that, in the interim, use will continue to be made of the site to facilitate training.