Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to review the payment of the pre Christmas allowance for unsocial working hours for the period of November prior to 2013 for members of the Gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54573/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that overtime and unsocial hours allowances are paid to members of An Garda Síochána, up to and including the rank of Inspector. Members are paid these allowances on a 28 day roster basis, in arrears, with the payment process commencing at the beginning of each pay roster period in respect of work carried out during the previous period. There are 13 such periods in each year and there are 13 payments made each year to members of An Garda Síochána based on individual claims submitted by the members. There are no plans at present to change this arrangement.

The majority of members receive this payment on the third Thursday after the end of a particular roster period. In the case of the period which ends on December 9th, this would be due to be paid on 27th December. However, the year-end payrolls are brought forward due to such matters as extra bank holidays which occur during the Christmas and New Year periods, the testing of new computer software to cater for any budgetary changes, inputting of payroll reference data changes for 2013 and the high volume of payroll administration required at the Financial Year End. This in turn means that the payroll date of 27 December has to be brought forward to 20 December. The payroll data for that pay date must be submitted by 7 December 2012.

This practice outlined above has always been the case and is not a new development. Garda members always have and continue to receive 13 payments each year for 13 four week periods. It must be remembered that with regard to normal salary payments, Gardaí are paid on a weekly basis and will receive their pay up to and including the pay day of 27 December before the end of the year. In fact, they will receive their salary payment for paydays 20 and 27 December in advance of Christmas on 18 and 20 December respectively.