Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

582. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí who have received specialist training to interview children as witnesses, victims or suspects in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [16758/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the allocation and distribution of resources including the recruitment and training of Garda members and members of the Garda Reserve is entirely a matter for the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I have no responsibility in this matter. I am assured however that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of Gardaí who received Specialist Interview Training to interview children as witnesses, victims or suspects in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 is as follows:

This training is delivered over a two-year period and these participants are at various points of this training. I am informed that, due to COVID-19, training has been suspended.