Retired Garda Allowed to Challenge Garda Commissioner Over Irish-Speaking Allowance Issue

A retired garda sergeant from Donegal, Paul Wallace, has been allowed by the High Court to challenge the Garda Commissioner to restore his Gaeltacht allowance, claiming losses to his pension entitlements.

Wallace is taking legal action against the Garda Commissioner for not deciding on his application to have the allowance restored since January 2023. He argues that this failure is unlawful and breaches the obligation to resolve financial issues, hindering his ability to appeal internally.

Wallace joined the Garda in 1985, served in various locations, including Gaeltacht areas, and worked as a divisional crime prevention officer. He received the allowance for four years but was denied restoration in 2007. Despite Letterkenny being designated as a Gaeltacht service town in 2020, Wallace claims he served the Gaeltacht community since 2002.

He reapplied for the allowance in 2023 but retired in 2024 without any update, resulting in financial losses from his pension payments. Wallace argues that the Garda Commissioner has not acted promptly or reasonably in handling his case.

The High Court granted Wallace's application for leave and adjourned the matter to October.

According to the source: The Irish Times.