Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 1

Written Answers. - Garda Representative Association.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

90 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Justice the money paid by the State in support of the Garda Representative Association in the most recent year for which figures are available; if she will give a breakdown of such expenditure in terms of staff, office space and equipment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17439/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The Garda Representative Association receives subventions in respect of rent, service charges and cleaning charges for its offices in Phibsboro Tower, Dublin 7. Subventions are also paid in respect of postage and telephone costs incurred by the association.

Two gardaí are seconded from the force to work full-time as the general secretary and deputy general secretary of the association. Their salary costs are paid by the State without any recoupment by the association. In addition, the association has one other garda seconded to it who acts as the assistant to the general secretary: his salary costs are paid by the State but are refunded by the association.

Details of the above subventions in respect of 1995, which were paid from the Garda Vote, are as follows:

	£
Rent and Service charges	47,398
Cleaning charges, etc.	5,312
Postage and telephone costs	24,796
Gross salary (including basic allowances and employers PRSI) of:
— general secretary	20,610
—deputy general secretary	20,224
—assistant general secretary (refunded to State)	19,057

Aside from these direct subventions, provision is made that special leave with pay is granted to members in respect of meetings of the association's district, divisional and executive committees, annual delegate conferences, working parties and external conferences. In addition to special leave, members are allowed travelling time to attend the annual delegate conference and meetings of the executive committee where long distances have to be travelled. The association is responsible for all travel and subsistence expenses which arise from its functions except in respect of 18 days of meetings of the executive committee each year for which travel and subsistence expenses are paid from the Garda Vote.

My Department also provides a payroll deducation facility in respect of subscriptions to the association from its members.