Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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286. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on whether it is appropriate to send large representative of Garda units, including dog units, mounted unit, aerial support unit and others along with the Dublin Fire Brigade and the Road Safety Authority into schools at a time when Garda resources are stretched on the ground and at a time when there were no other Garda resources working in the geographic area; and if there is a code of practice in that regard. [45220/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, one of the primary functions of the Garda Commissioner under the Garda Síochána Acts, is to direct and control An Garda Síochána. In this regard, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of all resources, including fully sworn members and Reserve Gardaí, among the Garda Regions, Divisions and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of security assessments, crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.

The Garda Schools Programme is managed and directed by the Community Relations Bureau. The Garda Primary Schools Programme was first introduced in 1991. It is a comprehensive education programme for 5th class pupils in Primary Schools throughout the country. The programme aims to teach children sensible and responsible patterns of behaviour in order that they may:

-Lessen the risks they may face through crime

-Be safer on the roads and at home

-Positively contribute towards Crime Prevention

-Know what the Role of An Garda Síochána is

-Develop positive attitudes towards the role and work of An Garda Síochána

The programme consists of a series of presentations given to the school children by their local Gardaí. These Gardaí have been trained in the delivery of the programme, which includes the following topics:

-The Role of the Garda

-Road/Cycle Safety

-Bullying

-Vandalism

-Personal Safety

-Drugs

-Crime Prevention

The Garda Secondary Schools Programme has been developed and is at present being introduced to Second Level schools throughout the country. The programme was designed in conjunction with the Social, Personal & Health Education (SPHE) syllabus of the Department of Education & Science.

Trained Gardaí are available to co-facilitate classes as part of the SPHE course at Junior Cycle level in the following two modules - (i) Substance Use and (ii) Personal Safety Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE), as part of the schools curriculum, supports the personal development, health and well being of young people and helps them create and maintain supportive relationships.

In relation to visits to Schools from members of An Garda Síochána Traffic Corps, Road Safety is traditionally accepted as being comprised of 3 main components, namely Enforcement, Education and Engineering. The main role of An Garda Síochána is one of enforcement, and education by Garda members is also seen as vital in educating young people of the dangers on the road network, ultimately helping to prevent road traffic collisions.

Members of the Traffic Corps visit secondary schools, colleges, businesses and community groups to educate of the dangers from the main road safety issues, namely excessive or inappropriate speed, intoxicated driving, fatigue, distractions and the non use of safety belts.

If considered against the financial cost, each road traffic fatality is estimated to cost over €2.5 million when every aspect of the collision is taken into account. In this regard, the use of Garda resources as an educational and preventive measure is considered a worthwhile use of Garda resources.

In relation to the Garda Operational Support Unit Resources which consists of four specialist units namely, the Garda Air Support Unit, Garda Dog Unit, Garda Mounted Unit and Garda Water Unit, these Units receive a considerable number of requests to visit schools and other community events.

Each request is adjudicated on an individual basis and is accommodated where possible, subject to sufficient resources being available and no greater operational requirement for An Garda Síochána at that time.

Visits to schools are considered hugely important to the development of young people at a formative age and their interaction with An Garda Síochána is enormously popular with teachers, parents and children. Such visits are considered a core function in the engagement of An Garda Síochána with the community in line with our mission statement.

Matters relating to the Dublin Fire Brigade should be directed to the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and matters relating to the Road Safety Authority to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.