Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Mar 1996

Vol. 462 No. 8

Written Answers. - Garda Representative Bodies.

Séamus Hughes

Ceist:

207 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Justice the total number of gardaí by rank currently serving; and the number that subscribe to the Garda Representative Association, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, the Association of Garda Superintendents and the Association of Garda Chief Superintendents. [5652/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The strength of the force in the relevant ranks on 11 March 1996 is set out below.

Rank	Number
Garda	8,412
Sergeant	1,867
Inspector	257
Superintendent	160
Chief Superintendent	43
Assistant Commissioner	10
Deputy Commissioner	2
Commissioner	1

All four representative associations — the Garda Representative Association, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, the Association of Garda Superintendents and the Association of Chief Superintendents — are established by regulation under section 13 of the Garda Síochána Act, 1924, as amended and section 14 of the Police Forces Amalgamation Act, 1925.

My Department provides a facility to enable members of each association to have their subscriptions deducted from their pay. It would be inappropriate for me to provide details of such subscriptions as this is a matter for each association concerned.