Almost €400,000 in overtime was shared by the top 10 overtime earners within An Garda Síochána last year, new figures obtained by The Irish Times reveal.
Some members of the force are also earning up to €22,000 per year in special shift and roster allowances, as well as their overtime.
Dublin-based gardaí, inspectors and sergeants accounted for 19 of the 20 highest earners of overtime in 2003. The only member of the force based outside the capital who figured in the top 20 was a Limerick-based inspector who earned €38,961 in overtime last year, third highest of the force's members. Currently the highest basic salary for a garda is €39,131, which is earned by members with 17 years or more service in the force.
The highest overtime earner was a garda based in Dublin, who was paid €45,758 in overtime. Next was another Dublin garda, on €41,074, followed by the Limerick-based inspector. The remainder of the top 10, all based in Dublin, were as follows: garda, €37,987; sergeant, €37,955; garda, €37,796; garda, €37,338; garda, €36,917; garda, €35,539; sergeant, €35,294.
The top earners in shift and roster allowances in 2003 shared €172,624. The highest sum paid in 2003 was to a Leitrim-based garda, who got €26,557. However, some €14,620 of the sum was a backdated payment in respect of allowances earned between June 1994 and August 1996.
A Dublin-based garda was paid €22,082 for shift and roster allowances in 2003, followed by a Clare-based inspector, who was paid €18,722.
The remainder of the top 10 earners were as follows: Kildare sergeant, €15,733; Donegal garda, €15,478; Dublin inspector, €15,390; Galway garda, €14,999; Dublin inspector, €14,624; Donegal sergeant, €14,525; Dublin sergeant, €14,514.
Gardaí are paid a variety of allowances for working weekends, late shifts and bank holidays. Members required to work shifts out of a Garda station other than where they are posted full-time also receive special allowances.
While it has traditionally been believed that gardaí appointed as drivers to Government Ministers are among the highest earners of overtime within the force, this is not the case, according to the Department of Justice.
A spokesman said ministerial drivers work on a "week on, week off basis". Their week off compensates them for long hours worked while on duty.
