Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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303. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will reinstate the pensionable rent allowance of approximately €4,000 per annum, as this has been in place since the inspection of An Garda Síochána and it is crucial especially in view of the fact that the current graduates have experienced a pay cut of over €4,000 on the salaries of the 2009 graduates and therefore an overall cut of approximately €8,000 which puts them in an unsustainable position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6819/15]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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312. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied with her Department's allocation for the current wage scale for new Garda recruits, particularly in view of the removal in 2014 of the rent allowance allocation of roughly €4,000 per year, which constitutes a significant cut to the pay package; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5774/15]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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313. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide details on the implications of the Haddington Road Agreement on salaries in An Garda Síochána, in particular, in relation to the pay package for new Garda recruits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5775/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 303, 312 and 313 together.

The current Garda recruit competition commenced in late 2013 and attracted over 20,000 applications. Details of the remuneration package, i.e. basic pay and other allowances including unsocial hours allowances, were made available to all applicants prior to their recruitment. These pay scales do not include any allowances. It is expected that newly attested Gardaí will be assigned to frontline duties and will work the Garda Roster system. This will immediately attract unsocial hours payments which, in addition with other relevant allowances, amounts to over 25% of their earnings. Even at the entry level of €23,171 and the lower end of unsocial hours scale, this would add almost €5,800 to their salary.

The Deputies will be aware that under the 2013 Haddington Road Agreement, the current remuneration and conditions of service of members of An Garda Síochána together with an evaluation of annualised hours/shift pay arrangements are being examined as part of a wider review of An Garda Síochána.

However, the Deputies will also be aware that, following a review of all allowances in the public service in 2011 and 2012, rent allowance for all new public servants including Gardaí, Prison Officers and Fire Officers was abolished in early 2012. There are no plans to re-instate this allowance.