The Garda motorcycle traffic unit in Dublin is being depleted at rush hour every day because the force is refusing to pay a €13 subsistence allowance to officers, it has emerged.
Just four motorcycle officers from the city's traffic bureau are on patrol during evening rush hour. The remaining officers all return to their base at Dublin Castle at 5.30 p.m. to take their mid-shift break because they are being denied a €13 payment for having their break while they are out on patrol.
Garda Patrick Dowd, who is based in Dublin Castle, said because the officers' break begins at 6 p.m. they must begin their journey back to base at around 5.30 p.m. By the time the officers return to work, the rush hour is over.
Speaking at the GRA's annual conference in Galway yesterday, Mr Dowd said that during break time, just two officers remain on duty to police all of the city's Quality Bus Corridors. And two further officers are left to police all of the main traffic routes in the city.
At other times, 12 of the 16-strong motorbike unit police the city's QBCs. Two members patrol around the city centre and the remaining two police the busy M50.
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