Irish government cuts will force the police force to lose 1,000 officers this year due to slashes in its payroll budget.
The Irish Independent reports that the government has cut the police payroll by more than $32 million. While the current number of garda is 13,417, the Department of Justice only has enough to pay 12,500 personnel.
As it is expected that fewer than 500 officers will leave the force this year "through natural wastage," another 500 will need to be cut from the payroll
Plans to reduce Garda numbers include offering police officers the option of a three-year career break since senior officials do not believe they will be able to have enough retirements this year. Officers will be enticed to take a career break with a lump-sum offer of $39,000, which is taxable, and a guarantee that the job will available after the three years.
They will also have the option to take up other employment in Ireland or in oversees markets such as Australia and Canada.
Around 1,000 police are eligible to retire this year but it is unlikely that even half of them will retire early.
The Department of Justice told the Irish Independent that "as the moratorium on recruitment continues for the time being", allowance was made in the garda payroll provision for "reduced headcount" through retirements.
Under the national recovery plan, the size of the force is to be reduced to 13,000 – down from its 14,500 headcount at the start of 2011.
Meanwhile, talks continue between the police force and the departments of Public Expenditure, Justice and Social Protection.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.IrelandNorth | Jan 07, 2013, 02:26 PM EST
20% immigration into a state with 15% unemployment is 35% insanity. Looks like the lunatics have taken over the Kildare Street asylum. Or - depending on your view of insanity - that they haven't!
brian22 | Jan 06, 2013, 06:02 PM EST
The police force in Sydney NSW would welcome any former Garda and the remuneration is good.
Curitiba | Jan 06, 2013, 04:49 PM EST
If they are cutting 7.5% of the Gardaí, they had better hope that 7.5% of all criminal emigrate or go straight at the same time!
Madeliene | Jan 06, 2013, 03:02 PM EST
I think if they all a small cut in pay, they could keep them- they are needed!
irishamerica46 | Jan 06, 2013, 03:00 PM EST
"Over 80,000 approved for visas despite massive unemployment, emigration" Watch the crime rate soar.
IrelandNorth | Jan 06, 2013, 02:48 PM EST
Photograph depicts members of Án Gárda Síochána na h'Éireann (ÁGSÉ) with riot helmits outside Trinity College in the national capitol boarding Belfast bus with riot helmits to reinforce Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)/Án Serbhíse Poílíní na Tuarsceart Éireann (SPTE) in suppressing loyalist uprising in provincial capitol. No Templemore police mutiny in 2013 like Currage military mutiny in 1913. NB 12,500 full time gardaí could be turned into 25,000 part-timers. (Ditto with Defence Forces' Ireland/Forsaí Cósanta na h'Éireann (FCÉ) with consequent decline in unemployment and more time with the kids).
Silling | Jan 06, 2013, 12:48 PM EST
A reason to emigrate must surely be a god send, everyone's glad to get out of Ire-land.
saraindc | Jan 06, 2013, 10:15 AM EST
more rubbish from the irish government! watch how crime rates spike as less gardai are on the beat! eu39k for 3 year career break is not good enough given how the economy is. what chance do they have of getting another job in a country thats already struggling to keep people in work - they havent a clue how to run the country - 12 housewives would do a better job than the government - they're used to working in a tight budget and getting things done! they should fire the irish government - shower or wasters!!!
curtisjohnson | Jan 06, 2013, 10:15 AM EST
As long as the international creditors of private banks are bailed out for the reckless behavior by the Irish people, I guess all is well.