Vol. 375 No. 1
asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the decision to abolish overtime payments to members of the Garda Síochána who attended briefing sessions prior to the commencement of their duty roster, he intends making alternative arrangements to ensure that a 24-hour police presence is maintained on the streets in Dublin, Cork and Limerick at all times; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
44.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will make a statement giving details of the Garda Síochána Vote for overtime for 1988, giving a comparison with 1986 and 1987, adjusted for inflation; and his policy on the working of overtime by members of the Garda Síochána and on manning levels generally, at the present time as a consequence of the overtime situation.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 44 together.
As in my reply to two previous questions on the subject of Garda overtime on 13 May 1987, I want to emphasise the point that the level of overtime provided for in the Garda Vote should not be regarded as a valid measure of the total Garda service available to the community. The vast bulk of Garda duties is performed during ordinary rostered hours of duty — not on overtime. There are, of course, occasions when extra demands on Garda services have to be met by overtime and the annual provision for Garda overtime is made for this purpose.
The provision for Garda overtime in 1988 is £8.3 million. It is £10 million for 1987 and expenditure in 1986 was £13.4 million. Figures adjusted for inflation would have no particular meaning as the number of hours overtime provided for in any year depends also on the pay rates in operation at the time.
The provision of £8.3 million in 1988 takes account of the decision to abolish the 15 minute pre-duty "parading" or "briefing" time in operation in the Dublin Metropolitan Area and in the cities of Cork, Limerick and Waterford. The abolition of this attendance, all of which attracted overtime payments, will effect a saving of approximately £1.7 million on Garda overtime per annum at current pay rates. The Garda authorities are satisfied that the abolition of "parading time" will not adversely affect the level or quality of service to the community, having regard to the recent improvements in Garda radio communications and the overlapping duty rosters which have been introduced over the past few years. The new arrangements will not, of course, affect the provision of a 24 hour Garda presence in the areas concerned.
As regards manning levels generally, the objective is to ensure that all Garda resources are effectively deployed so as to provide the best police service possible, having regard to the realities of our current economic situation.
