Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 February 2025
780. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda public order operators level 2 training courses that were held for Gardaí within the Clare division in 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2226/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the different Garda units and Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. The Garda Vote in Budget 2025 saw unprecedented funding of over €2.48 billion for this year, a 27% increase since 2020 which is supporting the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.
While the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the allocation of Garda resources, I look forward to engaging regularly with him to ensure our Gardaí have the resources they need.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that Gardaí with specialist training in public order policing perform duty with the Public Order Unit to provide tactical support as well as a graduated policing response to appropriate incidents, while effectively assisting frontline Gardaí.
These Garda members are only required to perform public order duties when operational demands require their deployment, otherwise they are engaged in routine policing duties. The Garda National Public Order Unit, (GNPOU), is not a full-time unit. Members trained in public order are deployed from across the organisation for operational requirements when the need arises.
The table below lists the numbers of Public Order Operators courses that were held for Gardaí within the Clare/Tipperary Division in the years outlined:
|
2022 Courses |
2023 Courses |
2024 Courses |
2025 To Date |
|
0 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
I can inform the Deputy that there were 14 members from Clare/Tipperary Division certified in this course in 2023 and 38 certified in 2024.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that training courses available from the Garda College are provided on the basis of need, and with regard to the operational requirements of the Garda organisation.
