Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister I play no role in such matters.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are 90 CBD2 training courses envisaged under the Garda College Training Plan for 2023. I understand that there will be 10 participants for each course and that the estimated non-pay cost is €55,300 for the related 900 training places in 2023.

I am advised that there are also travel/subsistence, facilities maintenance, administrative and supervisory costs involved with the delivery of these courses, however the financial systems within the Garda College are not capable of providing this level of granularity.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The nationwide roll out of Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs), which was an action under both the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and ‘Supporting a Victim's Journey’, has been completed.

As the deputy will be aware, there is now a DPSU in every Garda division across the country.

This is to ensure that when vulnerable victims of crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual violence present to Gardaí, they are met with a consistently high standard of specialist, sensitive, professional and expert assistance.

I have been advised by the Commissioner that the estimated annual payroll cost for three additional detective Garda to Garda DPSUs is approximately €196,000.

This is inclusive of the estimated cost of salary, fixed allowances and employer’s PRSI.

I have been further advised that this salary is estimated using the midpoint of the current Garda rank salary scale and that there may be additional costs for unsocial hours and any potential overtime payments in excess of standard time are not included.

Future pension costs and non-pay related costs are also not included in the estimated figures.