Written answers

Wednesday, 28 June 2006

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Garda Remuneration

11:00 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is satisfied that the arrangements for payment of Garda gaeltacht allowance as approved in 1934 are still relevant (details supplied); his views on whether in the context of these allowances being paid in Galway west, Kerry and Donegal that they should also apply in districts in County Cork and Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25222/06]

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of recipients of Garda gaeltacht allowance in each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25224/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 201 together. An allowance amounting to 7.5% of gross pay is payable to members of An Garda Síochána serving in defined Gaeltacht areas who perform their duties through the medium of Irish and whose knowledge of the language is certified as adequate for that purpose.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that Garda Districts in the Division of Galway West were approved by the Government for payment of the Gaeltacht allowance in 1934. Garda Districts in the Divisions of Donegal and Kerry were approved by the Government for payment of the Gaeltacht allowance in 1935. No other Districts have been approved for payment of the allowance since that date.

I have been further informed that when the Gaeltacht allowance was introduced in 1934, it was decided that it would only be paid in areas where Irish was the general medium of speech and where all the members of the force were proficient in Irish and were required to perform their duties in Irish. The areas where these allowances were to be paid were determined on the basis of Garda Districts. These are Garda administrative areas, each comprising of a number of Garda Stations, under the supervision of a Superintendent. It was not regarded as practicable to arrange for members of the force in any particular Station to conduct all their duties in Irish if Irish was not also in use at the District Headquarters.

The arrangements for the payment of Gaeltacht allowances are among the issues being examined at present by an Interdepartmental Group on the use and promotion of the Irish language in An Garda Síochána, particularly taking into account the needs of Gaeltacht areas and the requirements of the Official Languages Act 2003. This Group consists of senior representatives of An Garda Síochána, my Department and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. I expect to receive the report of the Interdepartmental Group shortly, and I will carefully examine whatever recommendations are made. I have been further advised by the Garda authorities that the number of personnel in receipt of the Gaeltacht allowance on the final pay run for each year 1997 to 2005 (inclusive), and as at 29 June 2006, was as set out in the table hereunder:

Year
1997 366
1998 361
1999 360
2000 353
2001 352
2002 336
2003 336
2004 332
2005 331
2006 329

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