Garda Overtime Costs Exceed €189 Million in 2025

Irish police officers, known as Gardaí, accrued over €189.01 million in overtime costs during 2025, according to records released under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. The figures reveal significant disparities in overtime earnings, with one inspector receiving an additional €65,008 on top of their regular salary.

Overtime Payments Breakdown

The overall overtime bill of €189.01 million equates to approximately €13,000 per member of the Garda force, based on current strength figures. An additional €4.5 million was paid to the approximately 3,500 staff members of An Garda Síochána, with an average overtime payment of just under €1,300 per staff member – significantly lower than the average for Gardaí.

High Earners and Regional Disparities

At least 20 officers earned more than €53,500 in overtime pay during 2025. The top 20 overtime earners shared a combined total of around €1.1 million. Three officers earned over €60,000, with payments ranging from €60,277 to €65,008. Ten gardaí received between €55,000 and €60,000 in overtime, while a further seven earned between €53,531 and €54,780.

The Dublin Metropolitan Region accounted for the largest portion of the overtime expenditure, totaling €71.4 million. The North Western Region recorded €31.8 million in overtime payments, and the Eastern Region accounted for €30.5 million. Overtime costs in the Southern Region reached €25 million, while HQ and national units, including those investigating drug crime and fraud, totaled €34.8 million.

FOI and Transparency

An Garda Síochána has stated that the €193.5 million total bill is a draft figure pending examination by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The organization declined to release the total take-home pay for the top 20 overtime earners, citing privacy concerns and the necessitate to protect personal information in a “confidential and secure manner.”

The Freedom of Information Act 2014 provides the public with the right to access records held by public bodies, including An Garda Síochána, balancing public interest with individual privacy rights. More information on FOI access to Garda records can be found on their website.

Garda Inspectorate and FOI Limitations

The Garda Síochána Inspectorate is also subject to FOI requests, with some limitations. Records relating to inspections or inquiries carried out by the Inspectorate are exempt from release under FOI. Further details on FOI and the Garda Inspectorate can be found on their website.