asked the Minister for Justice if he will give the following details of pay in relation to (1) Garda, (2) prison officers and (3) tradesmen prison officers employed by his Department: (a) the basic pay at entry and the maximum on 31 December of each year from 1969 and on 30 June 1980; (b) the average pay on the scale in the same period; (c) the percentage rise each year for each of those years using 1969 as a base year; (d) the criteria used for pay increase over this period; and (e) any special reviews carried out.
Written Answers. - Pay Details.
272.
The replies to (a) and (c) of the Question are set out in the following tables:—
Garda
|
On 31 December |
On entry Rate of pay£ |
Percentage Increase over previous years |
At maximum Rate of pay£ |
Percentage Increase over |
|
1969 |
15.37 |
26.36 |
||
|
1970 |
16.90 |
9.95 |
28.20 |
6.98 |
|
1971 |
18.65 |
10.36 |
30.80 |
9.22 |
|
1972 |
23.11 |
23.91 |
36.90 |
19.81 |
|
1973 |
27.36 |
18.39 |
42.59 |
15.42 |
|
1974 |
33.14 |
21.13 |
50.23 |
17.94 |
|
1975 |
42.67 |
28.76 |
64.30 |
28.01 |
|
1976 |
47.86 |
12.16 |
70.91 |
10.28 |
|
1977 |
52.31 |
9.30 |
76.52 |
7.91 |
|
1978 |
56.49 |
7.99 |
82.64 |
8.00 |
|
1979 |
63.12 |
11.74 |
108.70 |
31.53 |
|
1980 |
69.94 |
10.80 |
118.71 |
9.21 |
|
on 30 June 1980 |
69.94 |
118.71 |
Prison Officers
|
On 31 December |
On entry Rate of pay£ |
Percentage Increase over previous year |
At maximum Rate of pay£ |
Percentage Increase over previous year |
|
1969 |
17.36 |
25.70 |
||
|
1970 |
18.85 |
8.58 |
27.90 |
8.56 |
|
1971 |
20.60 |
9.28 |
30.95 |
10.93 |
|
1972 |
24.65 |
19.66 |
36.55 |
18.09 |
|
1973 |
28.97 |
17.53 |
42.19 |
15.43 |
|
1974 |
34.96 |
20.68 |
49.77 |
17.97 |
|
1975 |
44.99 |
28.69 |
63.73 |
28.05 |
|
1976 |
50.33 |
11.87 |
70.31 |
10.32 |
|
1977 |
54.90 |
9.08 |
75.90 |
7.95 |
|
1978 |
68.67 |
25.08 |
86.08 |
13.41 |
|
1979 |
93.90 |
36.74 |
117.72 |
36.76 |
|
1980 |
112.73 |
20.05 |
142.64 |
21.17 |
|
On 30 June 1980 |
103.45 |
131.15 |
Trades Officer pay (=Prison Officer pay plus trades allowance)
Trades Officer, Prison Service
|
On 31 December |
Trades Officer allowance |
Percentage increase in allowance |
|
£ |
||
|
1969 |
1.71 |
|
|
1970 |
1.71 |
— |
|
1971 |
2.07 |
21.05 |
|
1972 |
2.07 |
— |
|
1973 |
2.31 |
11.59 |
|
1974 |
2.60 |
12.55 |
|
1975 |
3.12 |
20.00 |
|
1976 |
3.12 |
— |
|
1977 |
6.69 |
114.42 |
|
1978 |
7.23 |
8.07 |
|
1979 |
8.03 |
11.07 |
|
1980 |
9.28 |
15.57 |
|
On 30 June 1980 |
8.59 |
The official records do not show the average pay. This would depend on the numbers on the various points of the scales from day to day.
Apart from increases of 7% from 1 April, 1970, and 10% from 1 January, 1971, which were granted in line with a general pay round applying in the civil service, the criteria used in reviewing pay both of the Garda Síochána and of prison staff during the period were those provided for in the National Agreements and the National Understandings.
A special review of Garda pay was carried out by the Garda Síochána Committee of Inquiry who reported in April 1979. A copy of the report was presented to the House on 11 May 1979. (While the Conroy Report was made during the period mentioned in the Question, namely on 15 January 1970, the pay scales as recommended became effective from 1 June 1969. That Report was presented to the House on 23 January 1970.)
No special review of Prison Officers' pay (in the sense of a review by an ad hoc Committee) was carried out during the period.