Over 300 Garda students in the Garda college will be allocated to Garda stations nationally in the coming weeks.
Members of An Garda Síochána have been invited to defer retirement, Garda students in Garda college will be allocated to Garda stations around the country and annual leave will be restricted as part of measures introduced by the force in response to the situation regarding Covid-19 in Ireland.
The measures were announced on Friday following an announcement on Thursday in relation to the delay phase of Covid-19, which came after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced a number of public measures in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.
The measures to be implemented by An Garda Síochána to maximise their operational availability and support other vital public services can be seen in full below.
- A contingency roster will go into effect from Monday 16 March 2020
- Annual leave for personnel will be restricted to no more than 5% of a Divisional/Bureau workforce at any given time with effect from 13 March 2020
- Approximately 325 Garda students in the Garda College will be attested as Garda members next week and allocated to Garda stations nationally in the coming weeks (approximately 200 from one class, and 125 from the next class)
- Garda members working as tutors/instructors in the Garda College will be deployed to operational duties or essential training services
- Training in the Garda College will be deferred until further notice expect for specialist training activity (firearms, driver, armed support)
- In order to enhance community support, 210 additional vehicles have been hired
- Members of An Garda Síochána who were scheduled to avail of the severance package on 1 April 2020 have been invited to defer their retirement for three months
- Subject to Government approval, Garda members of all ranks who have reached the compulsory retirement age can apply to remain in employment for a further 12 months subject to terms and conditions. Any Garda member who is required to retire on age ground on or before 1st June 2020 and wishes to remain in service can forward an application for the consideration of the Commissioner
- The Commissioner has designated the ongoing situation as an “exceptional event” in accordance with the Working Time Agreement
- Non-essential foreign travel will not be undertaken. All unnecessary large gatherings will be restricted. Only essential meetings in accordance with Government guidelines will take place with attendance limited to essential personnel only
Earlier this week, Deputy Commissioner, Policing and Security John Twomey established the Garda National Co-ordination Unit.
Headed by a Chief Superintendent, its role is to ensure a co-ordinated approach when dealing with organisational issues with the Covid-19 virus.
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