A commitment from the government to boost the remuneration for Garda trainees in an effort to attract more applications has faced backlash from the primary Garda workers’ organisation, citing its insufficiency. The Garda Representative Association (GRA), which has over 11,000 members out of a force over 14,000, maintained that the enhanced allowance is still conspicuously below the minimum wage.
Ronan Slevin, GRA general secretary, labelled the weekly increase to €354 as a “negligible trickle intended to narrow the substantial disparity between the pay rate and the cost of living”. He further underscored that the compensation offered throughout the 34-week Garda training programme added up to “scarcely over €12,000”.
“Considering the cost of living, especially during the 10-week period when trainees are assigned to major cities for practical experience, I don’t see how one can make ends meet on this income”, Slevin commented, insisting on a much larger pay increase.
He drew attention to the Garda’s “catastrophe in recruitment and retention”, which he deemed to be met with yet another “tepid response” from the government. The GRA advocates that trainees should earn nearly 80% of a first-year full-term garda’s annual salary, which stands at €36,400.
This proposition would mean the weekly training allowance would go up to roughly €700, twice as much as the incoming upper-level.
This was Mr Slevin’s rebuttal to Justice Minister Helen McEntee’s announcement of the second hike in a year to the training allowance for recruits throughout their eight months of training.
The weekly stipend for candidates is set to rise from the current €305 to €354, a significant increase from just under a year ago when the sum was €184. This adjustment is part of an ongoing commitment to draw new applicants and maintain a living standard level on par with cost of living increases.
The announcement was made by Ms McEntee at the Fine Gael think-in, located in Tullamore, Co Offaly. She detailed that the timing of the increase coincides with an unprecedented amount of funding being allocated to the Garda.
This latest rise in allowance represents one of several measured approaches that Ms McEntee is implementing to bolster the recruitment and preservation of the Garda. Other strategies include raising the entry age from 35 to 50, extending the retirement age, and initiating a fresh Garda Reserve competition.
Despite these efforts, the Garda force numbers have resolutely lingered at approximately 14,000, a stark contrast to the 14,750 at the pandemic’s inception in early 2020. Both the government and the Garda headquarters are intent on expanding the force to 15,000 sworn members before potentially making further increases, with Commissioner Drew Harris suggesting that an ideal number would be 18,000.
Recruitment efforts have stagnated even with the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary, for the past two years following its closure due to pandemic-related restrictions. Resignations continue to remain high and consistent retirements contribute to dwindling personnel levels. Alongside this, Garda recruitment has been decelerating as many successful applicants refrain from taking their positions in Templemore.
Addressing this issue, Mr Harris acknowledged that the Garda is now in competition with other employers in a thriving economy, making recruitment a challenge. However, he also noted that every Garda recruitment drive attracts a considerable number of applicants. He drew attention to a noticeable uptick in older members requesting to prolong their service by a year upon reaching retirement, demonstrating that a career in law enforcement remains fulfilling and desirable.