asked the Minister for Justice if he will institute a thorough and impartial investigation into the living-in conditions of Gardaí, and the amounts the Gardaí are charged for living accommodation, food, etc., with a view to immediate improvement in these conditions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Living-in Conditions of Gardaí.
89.
There is already adequate information available regarding the living-in conditions of the Gardaí, and I do not consider it necessary to institute an investigation.
A Garda Building Scheme, which has been approved by the Government, involves the spending of not less than three and a half million pounds on the erection of over 200 new stations with married quarters, the improvement of existing stations not requiring replacement and the provision of 1,000 houses for married Gardaí. To speed up this work, the architectural staff of the Board of Works and the staff of my Department have been strengthened, and an officer of the Force has been specially assigned to inspect and report on the accommodation requirements of the Force throughout the country.
I have no function with regard to the charges for food provided for themselves by members living in stations.
The deduction from pay in respect of quarters forms part of the agreement reached at Conciliation level under which a pensionable addition to pay for all members was substituted for the former non-pensionable rent allowance paid to members for whom accommodation was not provided. This deduction is at a flat rate irrespective of whether the accommodation provided consists of a house for a married Garda or accommodation at a station for a single man.
Does the Minister not agree that it is unfair, particularly to young Guards, to send them down the country and have a deduction made from their salary for sleeping accommodation that amounts to nothing better than a stable?
We have informed the Gardaí that in any case where the accommodation is not acceptable to them, if they come and make that case they will be given permission to live out and the deduction will no longer be made. In fact four such cases have been put up by different Gardaí in different places and in each case the recommendation has been accepted.
Does that apply to the Border?
It applies anywhere.
A Guard can make this application to the Minister for Justice or to the Commissioner?
To the Representative Body.
To the Representative Body? Will there be any disciplinary action taken against anyone who does so?
Four such applications have been made and permission to live out has been granted without any question.
90.
Mr. Belton
asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí sleeping in the various Garda stations in Dublin; the number of men sleeping in each room; if private wardrobe and locker accommodation is available to each man; and what floor covering is provided in the sleeping quarters.
The number of members of the rank of Garda sleeping in stations in the Dublin Metropolitan Division varies slightly from time to time, and is at present about 530. The average number of men per room is slightly in excess of three. The number of wardrobes is 493, and of lockers is 494. The floor covering in bedrooms is lino in all cases with the exception of one station where there is parquet flooring in the bedrooms.
Details of the numbers sleeping in each station are in the form of a Tabular Statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, will be circulated in the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
|
Station |
Number Sleeping in |
|
Kevin Street |
48 |
|
Kilmainham |
18 |
|
Chapelizod |
18 |
|
College Street |
60 |
|
Harcourt Terrace |
36 |
|
Store Street |
25 |
|
Fitzgibbon Street |
52 |
|
Clontarf |
24 |
|
Mountjoy |
25 |
|
Cabra |
12 |
|
Whitehall |
12 |
|
Green Street |
19 |
|
Donnybrook |
26 |
|
Rathmines |
19 |
|
Irishtown |
21 |
|
Dún Laoghaire |
24 |
|
Blackrock |
16 |
|
Dalkey |
14 |
|
Kill O' Grange |
8 |
|
Sundrive |
20 |
|
Terenure |
7 |
|
Crumlin |
6 |
|
Dublin Castle |
39 |
91.
asked the Minister for Justice whether he will take steps to have the living conditions for Gardaí in Kevin Street Garda Station, Dublin, improved, especially with regard to the provision of bathroom, washing and hygiene facilities generally.
The professional staff of the Office of Public Works have prepared an extensive scheme of repair and improvement works for this station. The Commissioners of Public Works have informed me that the report of their Architect on the scheme, which includes the matters mentioned by the Deputy, is at present being examined.
92.
asked the Minister for Justice whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that Gardaí in some stations are required to pay £1 16s. 0d. per week for one meal a day on six days of the week; and that, even when living in, they must buy their own breakfast, tea and supper, and lunch on Saturday; whether he considers this charge of £1 16s. 0d. to be a fair charge for six lunches of an institutional character; and whether he will consider having this charge reduced.
I have received no communication on this subject. The cost of meals provided for themselves by Gardaí living in stations is entirely the concern of the members, and I have no function in the matter.