Garda overtime cut to 50 hours per month in capital

A CLAMPDOWN on Garda overtime has been issued across Dublin as Garda headquarters tries to get spending under control. Assistant Commissioner for Dublin Metropolitan Region Pat Leahy has capped overtime, instructing that members of the force are now only allowed to work 50 hours extra per month.

The clampdown is across all uniform, armed and plain clothes personnel, the Irish Daily Mail understands.

Assistant Commissioner Pat Leahy told officers last week that they can only go over the new limit in ‘exceptional’ circumstances in an email seen by the Mail.

‘All Members, I am directed to report that Assistant Commissioner, DMR has directed that he is now capping each members overtime in any roster to a maximum of 50 hours per roster.

‘The limit applies to all overtime performed by a member whether inside or outside the district,’ the email stated.

However gardaí are concerned this 50hour cap will ‘significantly’ reduce uniform visibility in Dublin and could lead to a major reduction in armed patrols, checkpoints and policing operations.

The Mail understands Chief Superintendents and Superintendents have sought a meeting with the acting Garda Commissioner Dónall Ó Cualáin in order to highlight the ‘serious impediment’ such budgetary cuts will mean on front line policing and major investigations within the city.

A senior Garda source yesterday told the Mail: ‘While there is significant Garda overtime budgetary overruns within the capital over the course of this year, it is anticipated Garda overtime budgets will come under immense pressure arising from the policing and security plans associated with the forthcoming Papal Visit.’

In all, €130.8million was spent on overtime across the country last year – an increase of almost €41million on 2016.