asked the Minister for Justice whether he will state, in regard to the Garda reward fund: (i) the reason for its establishment; (ii) how it is administered; and (iii) how it is maintained.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Reward Fund.
(i) The Garda Síochána Reward Fund was established in pursuance of Section 18 of the Garda Síochána Act, 1924. (ii) The fund is administered in accordance with regulations made on 10th February, 1925, by the Minister for Justice, with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance, under Section 18. These regulations provide that rewards may be made to members of the force who have shown exceptional zeal, intelligence or ability in the discharge of police duties or who have performed exceptional acts of bravery. They provide also that rewards will ordinarily be made by the Commissioner on the recommendation of a reward board, but that the Commissioner will have power, subject to the approval of the Minister, to grant individual rewards in exceptional cases without previous reference to the reward board. (iii) The moneys payable into the fund are specified in Section 18 of the Garda Síochána Act, 1924.
The Minister has not informed me as to how the fund is maintained.
I have told the Deputy that it is maintained from moneys payable into the fund which are specified in Section 18 of the Act. There is a long list and I am sure the Deputy does not want me to go into it but he can get the list if he wishes.
Is it maintained from Government funds or State funds?
They are not exactly Government funds but they are funds that are under Government control. This has gone on since 1924. The fund was established for certain purposes and awards are made, as has been set out, for acts of bravery, etc. If the Deputy wants more detailed information, he will have to be more specific.
I have noticed that district justices on more than one occasion have imposed fines of £5 to be paid into the Garda Reward Fund. Is that one of the methods of maintaining the fund?
That is one of the sources.