Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
822. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she considers the payment of €184 per week for 34 weeks to trainee gardaí in Garda college to be a deterrent to entry to An Garda Síochána, particularly given the current cost of living; if her Department is actively considering recommendations for an increase to this weekly payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35982/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, public sector pay policy is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. The Garda Commissioner is also responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended).
I am advised that the current point 1 (lowest point of the pay scale) for a Garda member on attestation from the Garda College, Templemore is €34,572 per annum. This equates to €662.55 per week.
Garda Trainees currently undertake 33 weeks training at a rate of €184 per week training allowance. Food and accommodation are provided by the Garda College. This figure does not include travel/subsistence or other allowances payable when a trainee is assigned to a training station during the training period.
Additionally, trainees receive the uniform and boot allowances, which are fixed amounts and remain unchanged on attestation as a Garda member.
Any change in relation to the rate of the training allowance would have to be considered as part of the estimates process. I am engaging with my colleague, Minister Donohoe, in relation to this matter.
