Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 July 2024
72. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the improvements that have been made in terms of pay and conditions for members of the Defence Forces since July 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28147/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2020, members of the Defence Forces have benefitted from a range of pay increases associated with national pay agreements. In addition to these pay increases, members of the Defence Forces have further benefitted from specific recommendations arising from recommendations in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF), which was established by Government in December 2020.
The Commission on the Defence Forces made a number of recommendations concerning pay structures, which have been implemented including:
• Removal of the requirement for a Private 3 Star/Able Seaman to ‘mark time’ for the first three years at that rank (as detailed above in terms starting pay rates);
• Payment of the full rate of Military Service Allowance (MSA) applicable to the rank of all Private 3 Star/Able Seaman personnel.
Furthermore, in 2023 I announced the extension of private secondary medical care to all Defence Forces personnel, a measure which commenced in September 2023. Previously, various benefits applied to Commissioned Officers only. It now applies to all personnel. In addition to the comprehensive range of primary care currently provided, this new measure facilitates referrals to private consultants, as well as the costs of any diagnostic tests.
In addition to the above, I introduced significant changes to Naval Service sea going allowances.
Specifically, the current Patrol Duty Allowance, paid to Naval Service personnel, will be doubled after ten days at sea. This measure took effect from 1 January 2024. This has resulted in the daily rate increasing from €66.79 to €133.58 for an officer, and from €66.38 to €132.76 for an enlisted person, after ten days at sea in a calendar year.
Having due regard to all of the measures mentioned it is therefore important to note that significant progress has been delivered on pay and conditions, for the Defence Forces, in recent years. Following the implementation of the Commission on Defence Forces recommendations, as well as the ratification of a new public service pay agreement in 2024 (with 2.25% wage adjustment from 1 January 2024, 1% from 1 June 2024 and a further 1% from 1 October 2024), this means that recruits, on completion of training (which takes approximately 24 weeks), now start at:
• €39,714 in year 1
• €41,125 in year 2, and
• €42,425 in year 3
In terms of Officers, a school-leaver Cadet - on commissioning as an Officer- is paid €43,654. This is a second Lieutenant position. After 2 years they are promoted to Lieutenant and their pay rises to €48,990. These rates all include pensionable military service allowance, which is an allowance that is paid to all ranks up to and including the rank of Colonel, for the unpredictable nature of the work encountered by the Defence Forces.
Remuneration for individual members of the Defence Forces is dependent on a range of factors relating to the role and duties they perform. The minimum payment for trained personnel is comprised of Basic Pay and Military Service Allowance. Defence Force personnel also have access to other remuneration streams, such as technical and specialist pay, while at the same time a wide range of duties attract additional allowances.
