Garda overtime ‘a cheap stop gap’

MIDDLE ranking gardaí believe overtime is a “cheap stop gap” to compensate for the lack of the 2,000 extra members promised by the Government.

As figures published yesterday reveal, ten gardaí earned €400,000 gross in overtime last year. The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors said about half of that extra income goes back to the Exchequer in tax receipts.

It’s estimated that just over €58 million will be spent this year on normal Garda overtime, a slight increase on last year but a dramatic drop of €7m on 2002, when there were slightly less members.