Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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191. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of increasing Garda numbers by 100 in a given year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26364/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that payroll costs for new Garda recruits include a basic allowance of €184 per week plus a living allowance of €77.92. After 32 weeks of training, Garda recruits are attested and move on to the first point of the Garda pay scale: €23,750; rising to a maximum of €45,793 per annum after 19 years.

The annual cost of 100 new recruits in their first year (assuming a commencement date of 1st January each year) is approximately €2.2 million. This figure includes Employer's PRSI and an estimation of allowances which the recruits may qualify for following attestation. Moreover the annual cost will increase as the members’ move up the Garda pay scale each year.