Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1992

Vol. 421 No. 8

Written Answers. - Garda Síochána Retirement Age.

Roger T. Garland

Question:

97 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Justice whether he is in favour of retirement for some categories of members of the Garda Síochána at the age of 57; if he will consider a proposal that there should be a single retirement age for all members and that this should be set at 60 years; if he will agree that, if the retirement age is set for some members of the force at 57, many communities will lose out; and if he will outline his plans to keep the strength of the force up to its present levels and beyond.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

98 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice if he has received representations from the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors concerning the retirement age for Gardaí; and if he will introduce a normal retirement age of 60 years for all members of the force.

Michael Creed

Question:

99 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the increasing number of members of the Garda Síochána who are due for retirement in (a) 1992 (b) 1993 and (c) 1994, he intends to increase the numbers of new recruits to the Gardaí.

Michael Creed

Question:

100 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Justice if he intends to permanently extend the retirement age for members of the gardaí, sergeant and inspector rank from 57 to 60 years.

Theresa Ahearn

Question:

102 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Justice whether the Garda Síochána numbers are decreasing due to a recruitment at the rate of 260 per year and a retirement rate of 300 per year; if he intends to ensure that corrective action will be taken to maintain Garda Síochána numbers at their present level; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Theresa Ahearn

Question:

103 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Justice if it is his intention to raise the Garda Síochána retirement age to 60 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Michael Noonan

Question:

106 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Justice if he has considered a request by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, that a common retirement age of 60 years should apply to all members of the force; if he will outline his views on this request; and if he agrees that after two temporary extensions it is now time to regularise the age of retirement.

Edward Nealon

Question:

113 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Justice if he intends to extend the retirement age for all gardaí to 60 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Edward Nealon

Question:

114 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline (a) the rate of recruitment envisaged for the Garda for 1992 and 1993 and (b) the number of members due for retirement in each of those years.

Edward Nealon

Question:

115 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Justice if he will give details of (a) the number of gardaí in 1985 (b) the projected number of gardaí for the year 1995 (c) the numbers that will retire and (d) the numbers that will be recruited to make up these projected figures.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Flynn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 97, 98, 99, 100, 102, 103, 106, 113, 114 and 115 together.

I can confirm that I have received a request from the AGSI to have a common retirement age of 60 years in all Garda ranks. There is already provision for a temporary extension of the compulsory retirement age from 57 to 60 years of age in the case of the garda, sergeant and inspector ranks who are due to retire up to 31 December 1992. I will be reviewing the situation in this regard towards the end of the year.

It is estimated that 155 members of the force will retire this year and, on the basis that the temporary extension of the compulsory retirement age will end on 31 December 1992, approximately 400 will retire in 1993 and approximately 1,450 in all between now and the end of 1995.

The strength of the Garda Síochána on 31 December 1985, including recruits in training, was 11,396. The projected strength of the force on 31 December 1995 would be 10,507 on the basis just referred to regarding the compulsory retirement age. In addition to that there will be approximately 245 Garda trainees at various stages of the training programme at that date.

The Government are committed to recruiting 1,000 gardaí over the next few years. The first intake of 65 successful candidates took place in April and further intakes of a similar number will take place at three-monthly intervals.

There are also 585 civilian clerical staff employed in the Garda Síochána at present which is the highest number ever. A further 105 civilian staff will be recruited this year and they will be assigned to posts which will release an equivalent number of gardaí for operational duties. There is scope for further civilianisation in the Garda Síochána and a review is being carried out at present to decide on the areas within the force where civilians could be employed. I plan to increase significantly the numbers of civilians employed in the force over the next few years which will supplement the recruitment of 1,000 gardaí.

I am confident that these measures will ensure that the strength of the Garda Síochána is adequate to meet the policing needs of this country in the years ahead.