An Garda Síochána

Tuesday, 18 June 2024

Questions (244)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

244. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide the number of gardaí who have received CBD2 training, broken down by district, in the DMR in the years of 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [26093/24]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately the information was not received on time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is available.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.

I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 244 of 18 June 2024 where you sought: “To ask the Minister for Justice if she will provide the number of gardaí who have received CBD2 training, broken down by district, in DMR in the years of 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form.”

As you will recall, I had sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.

As you will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including the training of its members and civilian staff. I, as Minister, have no role in the matter.

I am informed by the Commissioner that there is a five-level suite of competency-based driving (CBD) courses, with each level specifically catering for the required knowledge base, skill set and operational requirements of Garda members.

CBD Level 1 consists of a one-day assessment programme. Members who successfully complete CBD Level 1 will be deemed competent to carry out non-response driving functions and routine driving functions commensurate to the role.

CBD Level 2 is a two-week Competency-Based Driving Course aimed at frontline Garda Drivers. This course contains Road Craft techniques and emergency response driving.

CBD Level 3 is an addition to the CBD2 course and is of three weeks in duration. This course has a requirement for a higher skillset of driving to facilitate the driving of higher powered vehicles. I am advised that Competency-Based Driving Level 3 is the highest level of training given to operational members.

The more specialised levels CBD4 and CBD5 are only delivered to members undergoing the selection process to become Garda Driving Instructors.

The frequency of all courses is governed by the operational requirements of An Garda Síochána.

With respect to the specific information requested, I have contacted the Garda authorities who have informed me that a total of 313 Garda members in the DMR have completed CBD Level 2 training in 2023 and in 2024 up to the 17 June.

I am further advised that the data provided is reflective of the members who were stationed in the DMR at the time of training and does not consider transfers, promotions, retirements etc.

I am informed that the table below sets out the number of Garda members in the DMR by District who have received CBD Level 2 training in the years 2023 and in 2024, up to 17 June 2024.

I am also informed that An Garda Síochána do not report on numbers that are fewer than 10. In cases where the requested figures amount to a total of fewer than 10, the personnel referenced may be identifiable to the general public, thus posing a potential risk to their safety.

Furthermore, An Garda Síochána, along with fellow Government Departments and public bodies, is bound by existing Data Protection legislation; the release of figures less than ten has the potential to compromise the protection and privacy of individuals employed by An Garda Síochána and moreover constitute a breach of this legislation and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

CBD2 training places provided to each of the Districts within the DMR

District	Division	2023	2024 up to 17 June	TOTAL
BLACKROCK	D.M.R. EAST	17	15	32
DUN LAOGHAIRE	D.M.R. EAST	14	13	27
BALBRIGGAN	D.M.R. NORTH	<10	<10	10
BALLYMUN	D.M.R. NORTH	13	<10	19
COOLOCK	D.M.R. NORTH	12	<10	16
RAHENY	D.M.R. NORTH	<10	<10	10
BRIDEWELL	D.M.R. NORTH CENTRAL	<10	<10	13
FITZGIBBON STREET	D.M.R. NORTH CENTRAL	<10	<10	14
STORE STREET	D.M.R. NORTH CENTRAL	<10	<10	<10
CRUMLIN	D.M.R. SOUTH	11	<10	15
TALLAGHT	D.M.R. SOUTH	<10	<10	18
TERENURE	D.M.R. SOUTH	<10	<10	12
DONNYBROOK	D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL	<10	<10	17
KEVIN STREET	D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL	14	<10	19
PEARSE STREET	D.M.R. SOUTH CENTRAL	<10	<10	16
BLANCHARDSTOWN	D.M.R. WEST	13	13	26
CLONDALKIN	D.M.R. WEST	11	<10	19
LUCAN	D.M.R. WEST	<10	<10	15
TRAFFIC CORPS	TRAFFIC DIVISION (D.M.R.)	<10	<10	<10
TOTAL		188	125	313

I am advised that the above figures are operational and may be subject to change.

I trust this information is of assistance.