Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2015
328. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to review the position whereby new recruits to An Garda Síochána will not be paid the allowance for rent which was previously paid; if her attention has been drawn to the hardship this will cause to new members of the force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5737/15]
View answer334. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to re-introduce the annual rent allowance payable to new Garda recruits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5570/15]
View answer335. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will re-introduce the rent allowance of €4,000 per annum for the new recruits to An Garda Síochána, and in particular to those who are stationed in Dublin, in view of the very high cost of rent in the capital and the importance to the criminal justice system of the welfare of members of An Garda Síochána. [5582/15]
View answer341. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will restore the rent allowance paid to members of An Garda Síochána; if she will restore other allowances and payments paid to employees of her Department or agencies under her Department's remit that were cut or reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5714/15]
View answer343. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if rent allowance will be reinstated to newly qualifying gardaí (details supplied). [5723/15]
View answer344. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to review the position whereby new recruits to An Garda Síochána will not be paid the allowance for rent which was previously paid; if her attention has been drawn to the hardship this will cause to new members of the force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5738/15]
View answer347. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on sanctioning an increase in wages and-or restoring the rent allowance payment for the recent intake of trainee members of An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5758/15]
View answer355. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will reverse the cuts to salary rates for the current intakes of Garda trainees; if she will reinstate the €4,000 rent allowance that has been abolished; her views that it is fair for trainee gardaí to be on a gross annual salary of €23,171, considerably less than the starting salary of the last group of trainees in 2009 who commenced on a starting salary of €31,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5912/15]
View answer359. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the basic pay payable to a full-time member of An Garda Síochána and a student garda just recruited; the way this varies, depending on date of recruitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5947/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 328, 334, 335, 341, 343, 344, 347, 355 and 359 together.
The current Garda recruit competition commenced in late 2013 and attracted over 20,000 applications. Details of the remuneration package, ie basic pay and other allowances including unsocial hours allowances, were made available to all applicants prior to their recruitment and I am providing with this answer a table of current basic pay for members at Garda rank together with the basic pay from 2009. These pay scales do not include any allowances. It is expected that newly attested Gardaí will be assigned to frontline duties and will work the Garda Roster system. This will immediately attract unsocial hours payments which, in addition with other relevant allowances amounts to over 25% of their earnings. Even at the entry level of €23,171 and the lower end of unsocial hours scale, this would add almost €5,800 to their salary.
The Deputies will be aware that under the 2013 Haddington Road Agreement, the current remuneration and conditions of service of members of An Garda Síochána together with an evaluation of annualised hours/shift pay arrangements are being examined as part of a wider review of An Garda Síochána.
However, the Deputies will also be aware that, following a review of all allowances in the public service in 2011 and 2012, rent allowance for all new public servants including Gardaí, Prison Officers and Fire Officers was abolished in early 2012. There are no plans to re-instate this allowance.
|
Garda Recruit |
|||
|
2015 |
2009 |
||
|
Recruits Allowance |
€184(weekly) |
€203(weekly) |
Recruits Allowance |
|
on Attestation 32 weeks |
€23,171 |
||
|
Year 1 |
€25,472 |
€ 27,100 |
On attestation 62 weeks |
|
Year 2 |
€28,302 |
€ 29,792 |
after 22 weeks |
|
Year 3 |
€29,834 |
€ 31,442 |
After 1 year |
|
Year 4 |
€32,407 |
€ 34,224 |
After 2 years |
|
Year 5 |
€35,840 |
€ 37,935 |
After 3 years |
|
Year 6 |
€38,110 |
€ 40,389 |
After 4 years |
|
Year 7 |
€40,163 |
€ 42,609 |
After 5 years |
|
Year 8 |
€42,138 |
€ 44,744 |
After 6 years |
|
Year 9 |
€42,138 |
€ 44,744 |
After 7 years |
|
Year 10 |
€42,138 |
€ 44,744 |
After 8 years |
|
Year 11 |
€42,138 |
€ 44,744 |
After 9 years |
|
Year 12 |
€42,138 |
€ 44,744 |
After 10 years |
|
Year 13 |
€43,857 |
€ 46,602 |
After 11 years |
|
Year 14 |
€43,857 |
€ 46,602 |
After 12 years |
|
Year 15 |
€43,857 |
€ 46,602 |
After 13 years |
|
Year 16 |
€43,857 |
€ 46,602 |
After 14 years |
|
Year 17 |
€43,857 |
€ 46,602 |
After 15 years |
|
Year 18 |
€43,857 |
€ 46,602 |
After 16 years |
|
Year 19 |
€45,793 |
€ 48,695 |
After 17 years |
