Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 164 and 165 of 25 January 2012, the details of firearms training provided for gardaí; the number of gardaí who have undertaken this training during each of the past seven years; the number of gardaí licensed to hold firearms; the number of gardaí who have received training in total; the amount of money paid to firearms instructors for Garda training during each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13870/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The information which was sought by Deputy on the 25 January 2012 is only recently to hand.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the basic Firearms Courses delivered by the Firearms Training Unit are as follows:

Course

· Basic Handgun course One Week

· Basic Submachine gun course One Week

· Refresher Live Fire One day per member, twice a year

· Refresher Fats One day per member per year

Members are required to attend two live fire and one refresher FATS (Firearm and Tactical System) per year.

The number of gardaí licensed to hold firearms over the last seven years and thus who have undergone training is as follows -

Tasers were first introduced in 2007 and are only issued to members of the Emergency Response and Regional Support Units. In addition Garda Firearms Instructors are also trained in the use of Taser. For security and operational reasons it is not the practice to disclose the numbers attached to these Units. Each trained member must undergo refresher Taser training three times per year.

In relation to the amount of money paid to firearms instructors, I am informed that, in addition to their annual salary and normal allowances e.g. rent, uniform etc., the current allowances payable on an annual basis to Garda Firearms Instructors are shown below. Instructors may also claim overtime for any additional hours worked over the normal 8 hour tour of duty. In addition, travel and subsistence is paid if applicable. The total amount paid under these headings over the last ten years is not readily available and its calculation would require a disproportionate use of resources.

INSTRUCTOR ALLOWANCE (Garda) €7,794.75

INSTRUCTOR ALLOWANCE (Sergeant) €7,794.75

INSTRUCTOR ALLOWANCE (Inspector) €8,506.30

INSTRUCTOR ALLOWANCE (Superintendent) €10,627.65