Mr. Brian Purcell:

I think we have approximately 200 staff in Killarney, but that is to handle seven payrolls. The centre serves the Garda, the prisons and the Department of Justice and Equality, as well as a number of other Departments. It is the most effective and efficient payroll system in the public service. However, on the point made by the Deputy as to whether one could bundle them all up and include them as core pay, there is one issue associated with doing something like this. If I am correct, the additional allowances are not pensionable, whereas core pay is. Consequently, there are issues one must consider in that context.