asked the Minister for Justice if he has received representations from the representative body of the Garda Síochána for the application of the principle of children's allowances in respect of the families of members of that body; and, if so, if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Children's Allowances for Gardaí.
Mr. Boland
Children's allowances in the public service are essentially linked with the differentiation between the salaries of married and single men. Officers while unmarried contribute, by working for lower salaries, to the cost of the allowances to which they will be entitled if they marry and have children. These allowances are not paid to officers whose salaries are not differentiated on a marriage basis and who make no contribution to the cost.
In the case of the Garda Síochána, the conditions which would warrant the payment of children's allowances are not present, as the pay of a member is the same whether he is married or single.