Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 4

Written Answers. - Garda Allowances.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

221 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice the additional allowances, if any, payable to gardaí stationed in Gaeltacht areas; if so, the number of gardaí involved; the reason for these special allowances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11492/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

I understand from the Garda Síochána that a Gaeltacht allowance equal to 7.5 per cent of basic pay is payable to members of the force, up to and including the rank of Chief Superintendent, who are serving in certain Garda Districts and who perform their duties through the medium of Irish and whose knowledge of the language is certified as adequate for that purpose.

The allowance is currently payable to 375 members of the force, details of which are as follows:

Chief Superintendent	1
Superintendent	6
Inspector	5
Sergeant	61
Garda	302

When the Gaeltacht allowance was introduced in 1934 it was decided that it would be paid only in areas where Irish is the general medium of speech and where all members of the force are proficient in Irish and are required to perform their duties in Irish. The areas where it is to be paid are determined on the basis of Superintendent's Districts as it is not regarded as practicable to arrange for members of the force in any particular station to conduct all their duties in Irish if Irish is not also in use at the District Headquarters.