Jim O'Callaghan
Question:120. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the full year cost of increasing enlisted membership of An Garda Síochána to 15,000. [11627/17]
View answerTuesday, 7 March 2017
Questions (120)
Written answers
I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested and I will write directly to the Deputy when it is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I have subsequently been informed by the Garda authorities that the year one cost of increasing Garda numbers to 15,000 members is €41.2 million, assuming a commencement date of 1st January. The annual payroll costs for these extra members would increase to €62.9 million in year two as all members would be fully attested at that stage and paid at the appropriate Garda salary rate.
Year one costs for new Garda recruits include a basic weekly allowance of €184 plus a living allowance of €77.92. After 32 weeks of training, Garda recruits are attested and move on to the first point of the Garda pay scale €28,405, rising to a maximum of €50,448 per annum after 19 years. They may also qualify for other allowances depending on their assignments. For the purposes of this calculation, the costs are based on basic salary plus employer PRSI but do not include any allowances that the members may be entitled to after being attested.
I have also been informed that the cost of training recruits is subsumed into the overall training costs of the Garda College and is not easily identifiable.