£100m spent on `extra' payments to gardai

About one in four gardai received more than £5,000 last year in overtime or related payments, the report shows

About one in four gardai received more than £5,000 last year in overtime or related payments, the report shows. In the section of the report on the Garda, the Comptroller details how more than £100 million was spent last year on "extra remuneration". Most of the force received overtime and "extra attendance payments" which totalled £37.7 million, and about a quarter of the Garda personnel - 2,625 people - received £5,000 or more.

In addition, "shift and roster allowances" amounted to £41 million, or an average payment of £3,800. A further £26.4 million is attributed to "miscellaneous" extra remuneration.

The bill for extra remuneration came to £105.4 million.

The report also shows the postal and telephone bills of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) cost taxpayers almost £25,000 last year and taxpayers paid a further £98,000 for the GRA's "accommodation costs".

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Taxpayers also spent £30,600 on similar bills for the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors.

The report shows gardai were responsible for more than £88,000 worth of damage caused to Garda vehicles last year.

The Prison Service spending shows that seven prison officers were paid a total of £118,000 for injuries - the highest single payment was £31,213. Payments totalling more than £311,600 were made to 33 prisoners as a result of their injury claims.

During the year, the Department of Justice made payments of more than £5,000 to 179 barristers and solicitors under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme. 116 solicitors received about £4.27 million, while almost £1.58 million was paid to 63 barristers.