Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Gardaí with firearms authorisation cards; the dedicated training facilities available to members of An Garda Síochána for training in the use of firearms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27390/07]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether it is satisfactory that An Garda Síochána have no indoor firing range for firearms training following the closure of the range in the Phoenix Park in 2005; when they will be provided with indoor firearms training facilities, other than the virtual automated training systems which are presently the only alternatives available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27301/07]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of An Garda Síochána with firearm authorisation cards; and his views on whether firearm training for members is adequate. [27300/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 57 and 78 together.

The total number of firearms authorisation cards issued to members of the Garda Síochána as at the 24th August 2007 was 3,345.

I am informed that Garda management is satisfied with the firearms training provided for members of the Garda Síochána who are authorised to carry firearms and that it compares favourably with similar training provided internationally by other Police Services.

Firearms Authorisation Card Holders are required to attend firearms refresher training at least three times a year. Two of the refresher courses are in respect of "live fire" and one course is in respect of the recently acquired Firearms Automated Training System. The Garda Síochána has two full-time Firearms Training Units based at Garda Headquarters and the Garda College.

Firearms Training is constantly reviewed to ensure that sufficient training is provided and that training compares favourably with international best practice. There have been significant developments in the Garda Síochána Firearms training in the last 18 months.

Three Firearms Automated Training System units were purchased by An Garda Síochána in January 2006, at a cost of just over €0.5m. This has proved to be a very successful initiative and has allowed the development of judgmental firearms training as well as traditional marksmanship training in a non-live fire environment.

An Garda Síochána has access to a total of nine Army firearms ranges for the purpose of live firearms training. In addition, two prefabricated Modular Firearms Ranges have been ordered by the Garda Síochána at a cost of €3.2 million. Delivery and installation is expected before the end of this year and they will be put into operation in early 2008. One range will be located at the Garda College and the second in the Dublin Metropolitan Region.

These prefabricated Modular Firearms Ranges are newly designed products and will facilitate live fire shooting for up to four persons in a carefully contained environment which adheres to all range safety requirements. The delivery of the two prefabricated Modular Firearms Ranges will further reduce the Garda Síochána dependence on using army ranges and will provide access to firearms ranges at all times without causing noise pollution to neighbouring offices or residential areas.