Redundancy funds have been earmarked for 30 senior gardaí. The Cabinet has set aside €6.5m for a severance programme targeted at senior managers in An Garda Síochána.

It will incentivise 30 senior gardaí members at senior ranks to take retirement before the maximum retirement age of 60, and to suppress the 30 posts that fall vacant as a result of the organisational restructuring. 

Justice minister Charlie Flanagan said: “This severance programme forms a vital part of the restructuring of the Garda organisation.

Operating model

“The new operating model, which aims to reduce the number of divisions from 28 to approximately 19, will result in a consequential reduction in the number of senior garda positions required at divisional level. 

“Thus, up to 30 surplus posts across senior ranks will be identified – 20 at the rank of superintendent, eight at chief superintendent, and two at assistant commissioner [level].’

The minister said that those leaving would get six months’ full pay, in addition to their normal pension and lump-sum entitlements. 

Severance terms

The severance terms will also be offered to garda civilian staff who are civil servants at executive director (assistant secretary) level. These posts are not being suppressed.

The closing date for acceptance of the voluntary severance deal is the end of January 2020, with departures taking effect from April 2020.

Approximately 800 new gardaí were recruited in 2017, and again in 2018. This year, 600 new members were recruited, with up to 700 expected in 2020.

Gardaí are now also supported by 2,900 garda (civilian) staff.