Concerns raised as funding for Garda training is cut by a third since last year

The budget for Garda training and development has been cut by a third by the government, despite promises from Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan's that the recent scandal revolving around inflated figures for breath tests was due to incompetence and deception from Garda members.

The budget for training was cut to €12.7 million this year, a massive drop from €19 million in 2016, and Frances Fritzgerald, Minister for Defence, was quizzed upon the reductions during an appearance at the Oireachtas today. She said she couldn't provide exact figures for what areas were subject to cost-cutting measures, but Antoinette Cunningham, vice-president of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), said that there has been a complete lack of training for Garda members over the last 10 years which resulted in a risk to best practice from members of the force.

Fianna Fáil TD Jack Chambers questioned the cuts during the sitting of the Oireachtas, saying that Gardaí are not getting the continuous professional development they require.

“The concern when you’re listening to the GRA [Garda Representative Association] and AGSI is that they’re not getting the continuous professional development they require,” he said.

“In my view, and particularly as the economy improves, it should be a core necessity in terms of policing reform. It’s important they positively and specifically detail the increases in budgetary allocations to that specific field.

“You hear a lot of talk politically and within the Garda itself of training and progressing people with the best up-to-date training. But when you actually go through the budgetary allocations, they don’t know what they’re giving.”