GARDA PAY:GARDA PAY and allowances should be reduced by a minimum of €50 million and about half of the Republic's Garda stations should be closed and sold, the McCarthy report has recommended.
The group believes some €136.4 million could be saved across the €2.6 billion justice spend and 540 jobs shed. The Garda would see its funding reduced by €63.2 million.
The report notes the Garda pay and allowances bill has reached €904 million a year compared with €530 million in 2001. Some €80 million of the current bill is overtime, with €217 million going on 57 allowances.
It recommends that a mooted value-for-money review of all Garda non-salary payments be brought forward and that a reduction of “€50 million a year be targeted as a minimum outcome”.
The group has recommended a “slowing down” in the replacement of Garda vehicles, which could deliver savings of €2 million annually. It is also proposed that the instalment of CCTV systems in communities be “shelved” to save €5 million annually.
Under further proposals, gardaí would no longer operate passport controls at ports and airports. Instead this would be outsourced, realising a saving of €1 million.
The group recommends the closure and sale of half of the Republic’s 703 Garda stations. This should be managed by Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy, not Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern. It says the Civil Service element of funding to the Criminal Assets Bureau, Garda Ombudsman, Forensic Science Laboratory and other Garda-related agencies partially staffed by civilians should have their non-pay allocation cut by 10 per cent, or €2 million annually.
On prisons, it is suggested savings of €15 million could be realised on “pay efficiencies” similar to those mooted for the Garda.
It says the new Mountjoy and Cork prisons should proceed. The new jails would be cheaper to run and require fewer staff and would allow for the sites of the existing two prisons to be sold.
A staffing reduction from 360 personnel to 300 has been recommended for the Youth Justice Service. Staffing levels at youth detention centres, where there are seven staff members for every detainee, have been earmarked for special mention for reduction.Youth justice would see its €50 million budget reduced by €6 million.
At the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Services (INIS), which provides immigration and related services, it is recommended that staffing be reduced by 240 to 500. This would save €10 million. Spending on the Probation and Welfare Service has been earmarked for a cut of 10 per cent, or €2.4 million a year.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA), which represents all rank and file gardaí, said it was “outraged and dismayed”.
GRA general secretary PJ Stone said the proposals would result in a reduced policing service that would force many members into early retirement at a time when recruitment was frozen. This would be welcomed only by criminals.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors said the report “did not take cognisance of the uniqueness of the role of the Garda”. Gardaí had already had their pay cut by income and pension levies.
Association general secretary Joe Dirwan said: “Other recommendations will have serious implications for the provision of Garda services, including the recommendation to consider closing Garda stations. This will inevitably result in a considerably reduced Garda service to the public.”
Garda allowances: what they can claim
Rent Allowance (€58.9m in 2008)
“Whatever about the historical origins of this allowance, it is essentially treated as part of pay and is paid to every member up to and including Chief Superintendent.”
Premium Payments (€9.07m)
“Paid to members who are on leave [who] would ordinarily be entitled to claim unsocial hours allowance if they were not on leave.”
Clerical Allowance (€2.07m)
“Paid to officers engaged in clerical duties to compensate for loss of other allowances, particularly unsocial hours.”
Gaeltacht Allowance and Aran Island Allowance (€1.2m)
“For members serving in defined Gaeltacht areas who perform their duties through the medium of Irish and whose knowledge of the language is certified as adequate for that purpose. And (paid) to compensate members stationed on the Aran Islands for . . . costs of travel to and from the mainland.”
Uniform Grant and Allowance and Boot Allowance
(€50.4 m):
“Paid to members of
An Garda Síochána for the maintenance of uniform.”
Plain Clothes Allowance (€1.9m)
“Paid in lieu of uniform allowance for maintenance of plain clothes – clothes not provided.”
Non-Public Duty Allowances (€1.7m)
“Paid to members of An Garda Síochána who perform a duty of a non-public nature (eg inside sports stadiums, race meetings).”
