asked the Minister for Justice if he intends paying the extra allowance payable to those in Gaeltacht areas to the gardaí in the Macroom administrative area, in view of the fact that the majority of stations in the area are in charge of the Gaeltacht and gardaí are carrying out their duties through the medium of Irish.
Written Answers. - Irish Language Allowance.
792.
Limerick East): It is not intended to pay Gaeltacht allowance to gardaí serving in the Macroom area.
When the allowance was introduced in 1934 it was decided that it would be paid only in areas where Irish was the general medium of speech and where all the members of the force where proficient in Irish and were required to perform their duties in Irish. The areas where the allowance was to be paid were determined on the basis of districts. These are Garda administrative areas — each comprising five or six stations — under the supervision of superintendents. It was not regarded as practicable to arrange for members of the force in any particular station to conduct all their duties in Irish if Irish was not also in use at the district headquarters.
The allowance has continued to be paid to members at stations where it was originally paid and no change has taken place other than those brought about by the closing of stations.