David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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40. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the full year cost and, separately, the cost in 2016 of changes to Garda pay and allowances as per a Labour Court recommendation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39207/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the decision by Garda Representative Association and Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors members to accept the independent recommendation of the Labour Court which sought to address the concerns that have been articulated in relation to their pay and conditions, the pay and conditions of new recruits, and their access to the statutory dispute resolution bodies. The Recommendation provides for:

- the restoration of the rent allowance of €4,155 per annum to new recruits as of the date of acceptance, the 5 December;

- an increase in the value of the rent allowance by €500 bringing it to €4,655 per annum with effect from 1 January 2017;

- the integration of the rent allowance in the new amount of €4,655 into salary with consequential increases in unsocial hours and overtime payments also with effect from 1 January 2017;

- the introduction of a €15 premium payment per annual leave day to compensate for the uncertainty attaching to the taking of leave by Gardaí.

- the implementation of a long-standing recommendation of the Garda Inspectorate by way of the introduction of paid 15 minute pre-tour briefing or tasking sessions with effect from 1 January 2017.

The restoration of the rent allowance to new recruits will cost approximately €190,000 in 2016.

My Department is assessing the estimated full year costs which due to the nature of the Labour Court's recommendation will depend to some extent on the amount of overtime worked in any year. That said, I am advised that, depending on a number of variables, the estimated gross annual cost of implementing the Labour Court's recommendation could exceed €50m; however, this gross cost will be offset by statutory deductions for tax, PRSI, etc., which will reduce the net Exchequer cost.