Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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262. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which Garda Síochána training, equipment and management continues to be modernised in line with best practice worldwide to maximise effectiveness in combatting crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27613/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the Garda College continues to develop and deliver training to the Garda Organisation in accordance with Garda Policy aimed at ensuring enhanced delivery in line with resources and international best practice.

The new student/probationer training programme has been radically restructured into three phases. Phase I is for 32 weeks at the Garda College, at the end of which successful students will be attested (i.e. become members of the Garda Síochána with full police powers). Phase II is for 65 weeks based in Garda stations, and Phase III consists of seven weeks of exam preparation, exams and assessments (total 104 weeks). The new programme will now result in an award of a Bachelor of Arts (Level 7) in Police Studies.

Approximately 14,000 training days were delivered to Gardaí through the College in 2014. These training programmes include continued professional development for members. The College has excellent links with other third level institutions including University of Limerick and Waterford Institute of Technology. Recently the Garda College has obtained accreditation with the University of Limerick for its Senior Investigative Officers (S.I.O.) Programme at a level 9 Special Award.

In addition I understand An Garda Síochána is supporting a number of staff in managerial positions to undertake the Executive MBA with the University of Limerick commencing in autumn 2015. More generally, it is also the case that the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, in its reports on the Garda Síochána, benchmarks the performance of the Force with best international policing practice.