Minister Proposes Cutting Garda Dream Allowance

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) is to begin balloting members this week over the proposed withdrawal of their dream allowance. Currently members of An Garda Siochana can claim up to €150 per month for dreams they have about police work. The move by government is one of a raft of new cost-saving measures expected to be part of the December budget.

General Secretary of the GRA, P.J. Stone, today described the withdrawal of the dream allowance as “unfair and ill-timed”. “This is yet another example of Minister Shatter’s lack of commitment to standards in policing in Ireland. We may soon have a situation where the solution to a case occurs to a Garda in a dream – as often happens – and that Garda is not entitled to collect pay for the time spent on that dream. We can bail out the banks, it seems, but we can’t bail out those who, night after night, dream some of the toughest dreams in our society.”

A number of serving Gardai have detailed how they often endure verbal and physical abuse from members of the public in their dreams or they try to run away from monsters, only to find their legs won’t move faster than walking speed. “This can be quite distressing,” said a Garda sergeant who refused to be identified. “More than once I have woken up in a cold sweat. If this goes through, I might be forced to give up dreaming altogether.”

Mr Stone pointed out that those civil servants who do not work in front line services, effectively get paid to dream, since they can sleep in their big comfy offices. By contrast, most Gardai are expected to walk a beat, drive a squad car or nod blankly at people who have just been mugged – activities where being awake is necessary in most cases.

Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter has robustly defended the move, however. “No one is saying the Gardai shouldn’t be commended for the invaluable police work they do while unconscious. We are still willing to reimburse them for any meals or other legitimate expenses they accrue in their dreams, as long they provide receipts.” The minister has also proposed cutting the number of Gardai who chat around a desk while you wait at the window from 4 to 2.