Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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595. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of GSOC officers who have availed of accredited education, further education and or training since taking up their posts since GSOC was established; and her plans to provide links to further accredited training and education through equivalents in other jurisdictions. [8131/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) that over 225 staff members have been employed at one time or another in GSOC since its establishment in May 2007. All of these staff members will have been provided with a level of appropriate training to equip them with the knowledge and skills required to discharge their respective operational and administrative functions while working in GSOC.

Since 2007, approximately 65% of the staff employed by GSOC have availed of accredited education or further education either provided directly by GSOC or paid for by GSOC under the Refund of Fees Scheme provided for under Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 23/2007. This Scheme has facilitated GSOC in building appropriate skills and expertise levels and supporting staff members’ efforts in the area of self-development and lifelong learning.

GSOC is currently putting in place a comprehensive Learning and Development Strategy which will identify key learning and development needs for all its staff and how these will be delivered over the period 2021-23, together with the resources required to ensure that GSOC staff have the appropriate skills, knowledge and expertise commensurate with carrying out their functions to the required standard.