Garda association lists six ways for next government to increase numbers
Justice, Passing Parade Of Minister Mcentee, Helen At A Templemore Out Garda In
A frontline garda association has told political parties that “words and soundbites” over increasing garda numbers won’t solve the crisis in garda recruitment and retention and has urged them to take some specific measures instead.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) said the parties need to “urgently create a more attractive and financially rewarding environment” to get new members to apply and encourage current members to stay.
The call from the staff body, which represents almost 11,300 rank and file gardaí, comes on the back of ambitious pledges in various party manifestos to recruit between 5,000 and 6,000 gardaí over the next five years.
In a statement, the GRA said: “With next week’s election fast approaching and with all political parties setting out their justice policies and manifestos, it is quite clear that the issue of garda recruitment and retention continues to be of vital concern.
“The GRA is often asked 'what would we do to make a career in AGS a more attractive one and help ease the recruitment crisis?'. Instead of making promises of thousands of new recruits with no real plan to achieve these, the GRA now presents a number of actions that we believe will enable Government to deliver on these election declarations.”
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It said that following a meeting of the GRA’s Central Executive Committee, the association is asking for the following actions:
- The immediate increase of the Garda Training Allowance to the equivalent of €35,000 per annum (€673 per week);
- Once attested (fully trained) each member would move to Point 3 on the Public Sector pay scale of €44,000 p.a.;
- After this, there would be another eight points on the pay scale to replace the current 19;
- A ‘Living & Accommodation Allowance’ for members’ initial years of service who are stationed in major urban centres;
- Introduction of a ‘Long Service Increment’ reward after 25 years and a pension incentive for members who remain on after 30 years of service
- Introduction of an ‘Occupational Supplementary Pension Allowance’ for all post-2013 members on retirement.
GRA general secretary Ronan Slevin said: "While we will always welcome the issue of Garda numbers being raised and discussed, it is action and not words and soundbites that will solve this crisis.
“Over the past decade there have been systemic, consecutive failures in policies and decisions when attempting to increase the numbers of gardaí available.”
He said the GRA has continually raised this issue as a “recruitment and retention crisis” in its ranks and that these measures could affect real change.
“We need to urgently create a more attractive and financially rewarding environment to both incentivise new members to apply for a career in AGS and encourage our current members to remain,” Mr Slevin said.
“It is time to make a career in An Garda Síochána one that attracts the best of our young talent and makes those members that we already have feel more supported and valued.”