Members of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) have accepted a series of Labour Court recommendations.

The GRA, which represents rank-and-file gardaí, balloted its members over the last three weeks on the €50 million deal.

The recommendations included a €500 increase in rent allowance, an annual leave premium, and the restoration of rent allowance for new recruits.

The vote was 75.2% ‘Yes’ against 24.8% ‘No’.

Turnout was 69% of members entitled to vote in the ballot.

The association's Central Executive Committee will meet tomorrow to discuss the outcome.

Members of the GRA had planned to strike, but action was averted only hours before the first planned strike day.

GRA President Ciaran O'Neill says he expects that strike is now off for good.

"The members have decided to the recommendations, which means signing up to Lansdowne Road," he explained.

The Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald has welcomed the outcome of the ballot.

In a statement, she said: “No-one, be it the Government, Gardaí themselves or the public, wanted to see industrial action that would have damaged the hard-earned reputation of An Garda Síochána.

“The independent recommendation of the Labour Court sought to address the concerns that have been articulated by the representative bodies in relation to their pay and conditions, the pay and conditions of new recruits, and their access to the statutory dispute resolution bodies.

"The outcome is one which is in the best interests of An Garda Síochána and the community they serve so well," she added. 

Public sector unions have called for fresh public pay talks in the wake of the Garda deal, and the Government last month agreed to invite groups to talks which "will seek to address anomalies arising from the recent recommendations".

Ministers have previously insisted that the recommendations are within the Lansdowne Road Agreement.

Members of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) are also being balloted on Labour Court recommendations.