The Garda Representative Association has called for the training allowance to be doubled.
The Department of Justice had hoped to recruit 1,000 new members into An Garda Síochána.
However, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan told the Dáil last week he expects it will be only 600 to 650.
On Lunchtime Live, Garda Representative Association Assistant General Secretary Tara McManus said there are a “number of things” the Government could do to help address the problem.
“We believe it’s not just the recruitment that needs to be looked at, it’s also the retention of the members that we currently have,” she explained.
“Just prior to the election last winter, we submitted plans that we felt would help to address this.
“The first was to increase the training allowance that Gardaí training receive down the Garda College.
“They’re currently receiving about €350 a week; when you break that across the week, it’s way less than the minimum wage.”
Garda graduates. Picture by: PA Images / Alamy Stock PhotoMs McManus said she believed that a higher training allowance would “entice” older adults to leave their careers and retrain as Gardaí.
“We would be looking at doubling that and bringing it up to an actual livable wage of in and around €35,000,” she said.
“If you want to get in the best calibre of people, you have to pay them to do that particular role.”
Main image: Graduation parade at the Garda College, Templemore. Picture by: Eamonn Farrell / RollingNews.ie
