Retiring gardaí receive €25.9 million in pension lump sums

One high-ranking garda received a payout of more than €170,000 as part of a €25.9 million pension scheme for retiring gardaí last year, new figures show.

The €173,678 amount paid out to the unnamed officer was one of 11 pension lump sums to retiring gardaí last year in excess of €130,000.

The Department of Justice confirmed 335 gardaí of all ranks retired last year, with the vast majority retiring on a voluntary basis. The average pension lump sum payout was €77,440.

The figures for last year show that the top 20 recipients – who each received in excess of €100,000 – received an aggregate €2.5 million.

The department’s freedom of information unit refused to disclose the job title and location of the gardaí who retired last year. “This is personal information and its provision could lead to the identification of the individuals concerned,” the department said.

The €25.9 million paid out last year brings to €114.65 million paid to 1,277 retiring gardaí over the past three years.

In 2012, 462 gardaí who retired received €41.94 million, while 480 retiring gardaí received €46.81 million in pension lump sums between them the previous year.

Gardaí can retire as young as 50 as long as they have accrued 30 years service while members must retire on compulsory age grounds of reaching the age of 60.

The most senior officer to retire last year was deputy commissioner Nacie Rice. Assistant commissioner Gerry Philips also retired, as did two chief superintendents; 16 superintendents; 13 inspectors, 91 sergeants and 211 rank and file gardaí.

Pay scales for members of the force range from €25,745 to €45,793 for a Garda; €46,229 to €53,119 for a sergeant and €53,404 to €59,178 for an inspector. Superintendents earn between €72,841 and €84,909, while chief superintendents are paid a salary of €87,259 to €104,457.

Assistant commissioners are paid €144,213, while deputy commissioners receive a salary of €163,365. The Garda Commissioner is paid a salary of €204,386.

Members who retire on full service receive an annual pension of 50 per cent of their final salary and a one off gratuity of 150 per cent of their final salary.