Written answers

Thursday, 22 June 2017

Department of Justice and Equality

Garda Strength

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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105. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated full year cost of increasing enlisted membership of An Garda Síochána to 15,000. [29327/17]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of personnel and resources are a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

I understand from the Garda authorities that the year one cost of increasing Garda numbers to 15,000 is €34.3M, assuming a commencement date of 1stJanuary. The annual payroll costs for these extra members would increase to €59.4m in year two as all members would be fully attested at that stage and paid at the appropriate Garda salary rate. Year one costs for new Garda recruits include a basic weekly allowance of €184. After 32 weeks of training, Garda recruits are attested and move on to the first point of the Garda pay scale €28,405, rising to a maximum of €50,448 per annum after 19 years. They may also qualify for other allowances depending on their assignments.

For the purposes of this calculation, the costs are based on basic salary plus employer PRSI but do not include any allowances that the members may be entitled to after being attested.

The cost of recruitment and training recruits are subsumed into the overall training costs of the Garda College and are not easily identifiable.

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