Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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418. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of apprentices in relation to rates of pay for enlisted personnel of the Permanent Defence Force at points one to three of the pay-scale inclusive in tabular form. [3649/21]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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419. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of members at the rank of private grade one in relation to rates of pay for enlisted personnel of the Permanent Defence Force, Army. [3650/21]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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420. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of members at the rank of seaman third class in relation to rates of pay for enlisted personnel of the Permanent Defence Force, Naval Service in tabular form. [3651/21]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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421. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of members at the rank of private two star in relation to rates of pay for enlisted personnel of the Permanent Defence Force, Army. [3652/21]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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422. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of members at the rank of seaman second class in relation to rates of pay for enlisted personnel of the Permanent Defence Force, Naval Service. [3653/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 to 422, inclusive, together.

The ranks referred to by the Deputy are ranks which personnel occupy on a transitional basis until they qualify in their respective role.

New entrant general service recruits to the Army start as Private Grade 1 and on sucessful completion of their initial 15 weeks training, progress to Private 2 star. On sucessful completion of a further 10 weeks training, they progress to Private 3 star.

New entrant general service recruits to the Naval Service start as Seaman Third Class and on successful completion of 14 weeks training, progress to Seaman Second Class. On succesful completion of a further week of training, they progress to Seaman First Class (Able Seaman).

Apprentices to the Air Corps undertake a four year training course to qualify as technicians.

The table below contains the details, as at 31st December 2020, of the numbers and weekly pay rate for the trainee ranks queried by the Deputy. This is reflective of the timeframes in which inductions occured.

As trainees, these personnel are in receipt of training pay. It should be noted, that in addition to overall improvements in pay for Defence Force members in recent years, trainees are no longer required to pay the weekly deduction of €43.63 for rations and accommodation.

On completion of training, newly qualified Private 3 Star (Seaman 1st Class) earn basic pay of €509.26 per week and Military Service Allowance (MSA) of €52.77 per week equating to an annual salary of €29,326 rising to €40,569 after 9 years.

In addition, Patrol Duty Allowance ranging from €56.14 to €59.09 per day is paid to Naval Service personnel on patrol duty. A sea going naval personnel tax credit of €1,500 for the 2021 tax year is also available to members of the Naval Service who served 80 days or more at sea in 2020.

Other allowances are also payable to Defence Forces personnel. Certain members of the Defence Forces are also in receipt of technical pay.