The Government needs to invest heavily in Garda training if numbers in the force are to be increased and the "disgraceful and embarrassing" resources at the training college in Templemore updated, according to the Garda Representative Association (GRA), writes Conor Lally in Galway.
GRA president Mr Michael Kirby last night urged the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, to outline immediately what plans the Government has to expand current training resources.
Speaking at the beginning of the GRA's annual conference in Galway, Mr Kirby also called for clarification as to when an extra 2,000 gardaí will be recruited as promised by the Government during the general election campaign last year.
"Was this a false and shallow promise to the gardaí and the people, or can we perhaps expect an announcement on this in the near future?"
While the Government's commitment last year to increase the force was greatly welcomed by the GRA at the time, there has been no progress on the issue to date.
"Even if the Minister had the intention to increase the size of the force [by 2,000 members] this is not possible without an expansion in training resources, given that the output of trained gardaí from the Garda College is around 650 annually and up to 600 members are expected to retire from the force this year and in future years.
"This means that we will just be standing still in terms of overall members." Irrespective of the plans to increase the force, current training facilities were badly in need of investment, Mr Kirby said.
He added that one need only look at the disgraceful state of the gymnasium in the Garda College. Mr Kirby said it was now an embarrassment and should be entirely refurbished.
" I want to put it to the Minister: will there be an expansion in the training programmes and budget to allow for the promised level of recruitment, or will we simply get another promise on this issue as another elections beckons?"
Mr McDowell, who is due to address the conference today, has already indicated that given current budgetary constraints, plans to add 2,000 officers to the force will not now go ahead. The Minister is under pressure to increase the numbers of gardaí on the beat to tackle public order offences.
Both he and the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, have announced a manpower review of the force under which officers providing 24-hour guards to former Taoisigh are to be redeployed to more traditional policing duties.
Mr McDowell is today expected to tell delegates that the way forward for Irish policing lies in mounting regular specialised operations.
He was encouraged by data published last week which revealed headline offences were down by 9 per cent in the first three months of the year and believes special operations are the best way to tackle crime.