Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

According to the latest figures, the availability allowance amounts to approximately €1.7 million. This allowance applies to senior members of the force - superintendents, chief superintendents and others - who are expected to make themselves available during non-core hours, as it were. Given the public service's development in recent years, it is a fact of life for many senior managers that they no longer work a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. day five or six days per week. I have a good relationship with my superintendent. Now that I know he has an availability allowance, I will be ringing him more frequently at the weekend for his advice. He might not welcome my comment.