I propose to take Questions Nos. 900 to 906, inclusive, together.
I have had inquiries made into the origin of the Gaeltacht allowance and the position is as follows. In 1934 the Government approved the payment of a Gaeltacht allowance to gardaí serving in the Galway West division. It is understood that the purpose of the allowance was to support a drive being made at the time to promote the use of Irish in the newly formed Garda division of Galway West and to improve the status of the language amongst members there generally. In 1935, the Government authorised the payment of the allowance to gardaí serving in Irish speaking Garda districts in the Donegal division and Irish speaking Garda districts in the Kerry division.
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 superintendents' 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.
The Gaeltacht allowance is calculated at 7.5% of basic pay and is payable to members of the force, up to and including the rank of chief superintendent, who are serving in the above 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 346 members of the force. The total amount paid in respect of the allowance for the tax year 2000-01 was £674,653.