Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has to improve and extend Garda inservice training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16355/04]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the continuous professional development programme of Garda personnel is a core activity of Garda training. Training and development programmes are delivered on an ongoing basis to enhance the competency of members in various specialties. These programmes are reviewed and evaluated to ensure they meet current and emerging needs. The structure to deliver inservice training for the general membership includes a training school headed by a qualified training sergeant in each division with the exception of Cork north division, whose training is provided for in Cork City.

To provide and achieve a more consistent delivery of continuous professional development in the Dublin metropolitan region, decentralisation of inservice training from Harcourt Square to each division within the region took place in January 2003. Six new inservice training schools were established and staffed. The total number of inservice training schools is 35. Ongoing training needs are assessed on a continuous basis to determine the core continuous professional development programmes to be delivered in each divisional training school.