Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and her assistants for her presentation.

I have received a couple of emails from new recruits in Templemore. The Minister has stressed her delight - and my party and I are delighted to see them - at their eagerness to get going in the job. The recruits are concerned about their salary. A couple of new recruits have informed me that their salary on leaving Templemore will be €23,171 gross. They pointed out that the last time recruits left Templemore was in 2009 when the salary was €27,000 plus €4,000 rent allowance. I accept there have been pay cuts for everybody across the public service between 2009 and the present date. The recruits made the point that they are out of pocket in terms of the €4,000 rent allowance, which is a significant amount of money. They pointed out in their e-mails that the slogan of An Garda Síochána is "A fair day's pay for a fair day's work." When the recruits pass out and are placed in the community they will not be on the same rate of pay as other recruits heretofore. I would like the Minister to give an explanation for the difference in pay.