A majority of gardai believe the force does not pay sufficient attention to training and development, a report has found.
A management consultants' report found a high degree of scepticism and frustration about the lack of opportunity for internal training and development, particularly among lower ranks.
The report is part of the Government's Strategic Management Initiative, which seeks to improve efficiency in the public sector. It was carried out by the Institute of Public Administration on behalf of the SMI.
It states: "Members, especially at garda and sergeant level, perceive that organisational and management commitment to staff training and development is generally poor.
"In all cases, the lower the rank the more negative the perception. For example, only 26 per cent of gardai and 33 per cent of sergeants believed that `An Garda Siochana is serious about investing in staff T&D [training and development] over the next few years'."
The report states that the negative perceptions stem from "deficiencies in systems and organisation".
"Most members perceived access to education and training as problematic, with only a small minority of gardai (13 per cent) and sergeants (23 per cent) stating that they have good access to such opportunities. Difficulty in releasing staff because of operational needs was the most common reason given."
The consultants interviewed 200 gardai and received replies from about 850 members who completed questionnaires.
The consultants held workshops with some 200 gardai and found the same views expressed. Some blamed lack of commitment on the part of senior management. The report adds: "Most, however, attributed it to wider organisational values. They saw it as proof that, traditionally, the organisation has not placed much value on training and development".
A widespread belief among gardai and sergeants is that Garda management was concerned with controlling overtime expenditure "to the detriment of all other concerns, including training". The consultants found that financial considerations and pressure of work made it difficult for management to release staff for training.
"Whether due to lack of resources, lack of time, lack of commitment or past history, or mostly likely a combination of all four factors, there is widespread disillusionment and scepticism throughout the force at present regarding training and development practices and policies [and] both formal and informal training.
"These attitudes can only be overcome through giving training a much higher, more positive profile in the organisation and by requiring all supervisors and managers to demonstrate an active, personal commitment to the development of their staff."
It recommends that the current target of in-service training of three to four days a year should be extended.
Civilian staff, about 800 of whom work for the force, also expressed "the same high level of dissatisfaction with the level and type of training they receive". The report found the Garda does not provide in-service training for its civilian staff.
The need to train every member of the force in using the new information system, PULSE, has placed additional pressure on training.
The consultants were surprised to find that the force does not provide fitness or self-defence training for members.