Dáil debates

Wednesday, 23 May 2018

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions

Garda Training

10:30 am

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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28. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if reports from an organisation (details supplied) that up to 50% of front-line gardaí cannot participate in high-speed chases or use sirens due to the fact they do not have basic training will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22887/18]

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Many members of the public may not be aware of the fact that in order for members of An Garda Síochána to engage in high-speed chases in Garda vehicles and to use flashing blue lights, they are required to have competency based driving, CBD, level 2 training.

According to recent reports from the Garda Representative Association, up to 50% of members of An Garda Síochána did not have this level of training. Will the Minister clarify if this figure is correct and make a statement on the matter?

10:35 am

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I share the view expressed by the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and take seriously the comments he made concerning the commencement of business.

As Deputy O'Callaghan will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner has statutory responsibility for carrying on, managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including training. As Minister, I do not have a direct role in the matter. It is important to note, however, that members of An Garda Síochána undertake a wide variety of roles that require different sets of skills from time to time and different types of training, including, for example, in respect of child protection, crime scene examination and cybercrime. It is not necessary for every member of An Garda Síochána to have specialist knowledge of every area of policing. The system does not work in that way. In the case of advanced driving skills, not all members are required to drive on a daily basis or to have the capacity to respond to emergency response calls in a high-speed vehicle.

Responsibility for training lies with the Garda College and the divisional continuing professional development schools under the overall responsibility of the executive director for human resources and people development. I am informed by the Garda authorities that following a review of its driver training programmes in 2009, An Garda Síochána introduced a five level suite of competency based driving, CBD, courses, with each level specifically catering for the required knowledge base, skill set and operational requirements of members undergoing the relevant training. The review was informed by the Garda Inspectorate’s report into roads policing. I understand that CBD level 2 is a three-week course which enabling those members who successfully complete the course to drive the majority of patrol cars and public order vans available to the Garda. I am advised by the Garda Commissioner that since 2009, in the region of 2,700 members have successfully completed this level of training course. This figure does not include those who completed driver training prior to the introduction of the new competency based driving programme.

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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While I am fully aware that the Garda Commissioner has statutory responsibility for Garda training, the Minister has political responsibility for An Garda Síochána. As such, I cannot directly question the Garda Commissioner but I can directly question the Minister on behalf of members of the public, which is what I am doing. It is important to note concerns raised by the Garda Representative Association that more than half of all front-line gardaí are not qualified to drive with flashing blue lights and cannot respond to emergency call-outs. The fact that no training course is provided for pursuit driving, other than the training provided in the emergency response unit, was highlighted in October 2014 when a woman died tragically after being struck by a vehicle being pursued by members of An Garda Síochána. The lack of training was also highlighted by the Regency Hotel shootings in 2016 when it emerged that the driver of one of the first patrol cars to respond was not qualified to drive either at speed or with his siren or blue lights on. This is a matter of a concern.

The Minister stated that 2,700 gardaí have completed the CBD level 2 course since 2009. However, he did not answer my question as to what percentage of members of An Garda Síochána had received CBD level 2 training to enable them to drive at high speed during pursuits.

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by Garda management that a review is under way to identify how the delivery of the current driver training system can be improved. I understand consultations have taken place with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other police services to identify international best practice with regard to models of training. Pending the outcome of the review, I am advised that places on driving courses will continue to be allocated on a scheduled basis with priority being given where there is an immediate operational demand for drivers in a division or unit. In this regard, I point to the availability of a range of Garda driver training courses to meet the operational demands of the Garda. Two training centres are in operation at the Garda College and Garda headquarters, respectively. There are currently 31 Garda members - five sergeants and 26 gardaí - assigned to driver training duties. This will feed into the review. I am keen to ensure the best skills are available to An Garda Síochána.

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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While I appreciate the Minister's response, he has not answered my simple question. Is the statement by the Garda Representative Association that up to 50% of members of An Garda Síochána do not have the training qualification that would enable them to engage in high-speed chases correct? I and other Deputies have asked this question of the Department numerous times but for some reason it will not give an answer, other than to provide the partial answer given previously, namely, that 2,700 gardaí have completed CBD level 2 training since 2009. We need to know the reason for the withholding of this information. While this is a serious matter, I cannot understand that it would be a matter of such sensitivity that the detail could not be placed in the public domain. Members of the public are entitled to be confident that members of An Garda Síochána are sufficiently trained and qualified to engage in high-speed chases.

The Minister is correct and I accept that not every member of An Garda Síochána needs to be involved in high-speed chases or to engage in driving duties. However, we must ensure a sufficient percentage of members of the force are qualified to do so. As we know from experience, issues arise immediately for An Garda Síochána that require urgent involvement of a Garda car.

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I provided figures and I will repeat that the number of gardaí who have been trained to CBD level 2 currently stands at 2,700. This figure does not include gardaí who were trained to an equivalent level prior to the introduction of the competency based framework.

I take issue with the attempt to draw a distinction between gardaí on the front line and other gardaí. It is indicative of a fundamental misunderstanding of what amounts to the nature of modern policing. A member of An Garda Síochána whose duties focus, for example, on liaising with victims of crime or the forensic examination of crime scenes is very much on the front line of policing. It is not necessary for all gardaí to be equipped with specialist driving skills, whether they are in cars or otherwise.