Calls for government to stump up cash to help rank and file Gardai to buy houses

Rank and file Gardaí are set to hear calls for the government to stump up cash to help them buy houses. The call will be made in the annual conference of the Garda Representative Association, which represents some 11,200 members of the force – and comes as officers say they, like other sections of society, are struggling to buy houses. A motion at the conference, which is being held in Killarney, Co Kerry , calls for the government to pay for a portion of a house a Garda wants to buy – and then surrender the equity to the officer at a later date.

The motion, from the body’s ruling central executive committee, says: “Conference calls on the Government to introduce an enhanced scheme whereby members of An Garda Síochána who are essential frontline workers are assisted by the State in purchasing a home; such a scheme would see the State provide a percentage of the purchase price (to be determined on a geographical and economic basis) and up on completion of a prescribed and agreed term of service, the State's equity in the property is surrendered/transferred to the member.” The conference, which lasts over three days, starts today. But there will be two notable absences from it – the Garda Commissioner and Minister for Justice.



Those office holders are usually guests of honour at the event but, for the second year running, the GRA has snubbed Commissioner Drew Harris . That followed a near-unanimous vote of no confidence in him in late 2023. And once Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan heard that the GRS had not invited Mr Harris, he opted not to attend – just like his predecessor Helen McEntee last year.

As well as the call for housing money, the conference will hear another 16 motions – from a call to appoint more specialist forensic collision investigators, to a demand that the Garda suspension policy be reviewed. Delegates from the Clare region have also submitted a motion calling for all frontline Gardaí to be trained on a pepper spray canister that has a longer range and larger capacity. They also want the Mark Nine incapacitate spray canister to be available in every frontline Garda car.

The central executive committee also wants all trainee Gardaí at the force’s college in Templemore, Co Tipperary to be given public order training. Officers from the Dublin Metropolitan east division are calling for a substantial increase in night allowances for any Garda working between 8pm and 8am. And the central executive committee is also calling for better training for all Gardaí involved in pursuits.

A new Spontaneous Pursuits procedure document was bought in last year and clarified that Gardaí can navigate contra flow on these roads if it is deemed safe. The guidelines have been revamped as Gardaí are concerned that criminals are intentionally driving on the wrong side of the road in the hope that the officers will call off their chase. But sources tell us many pursuits are now being called off as no officers have been trained in dispatching Gardaí for such chases.

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here ..