Shock at number of guards trained to drive with sirens

The revelation that just over 2,300 gardaí have been trained to drive with sirens and flashing blue lights in the past six years has been described as “shocking” and a “disservice to the general public”.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) said it is “simply incredible” that the majority of frontline gardaí cannot respond at speed to emergency call-outs.

Responding to Independent TD Tommy Broughan, who submitted questions on Garda driver training a year ago, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan confirmed that 2,303 members of the forces have completed competency based driving (CBD2) since 2012, with 72 of those successfully completing the training so far this year.