Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan spoke of morale in the Defence Forces. I presume the Deputy is referring to the University of Limerick, UL, document. My Department, the Defence Forces and the associations have taken that report very seriously. We have actioned quite a number of points and are working through the document. The report was carried out at a time of tough economic circumstances within the State. Were the UL study to be carried out again, there would be different results. There have been pay increases across the board for members of the Defence Forces. Deputy O'Sullivan also spoke about specialist skills. People retire right across the board, from different ranks and with different skill sets. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, has prioritised the Defence Forces, along with the health sector, to investigate recruitment and retention issues around specialist skills. We are preparing for negotiations with the Public Service Pay Commission. Work is ongoing on that at present in association with the representative organisations.

The ongoing financial difficulties in respect of Vote 35 were discussed. We have had increases over the past two years. We are in continuous negotiations with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and his officials to address this issue. We cannot say for definite at the start of each budgetary year how many people are going to retire. It depends on whether they retire in January or November as to how much of a chunk will be taken out of our budget.

Disability as it relates to members of the Defence Forces was brought up. There is a range of disabilities, including hearing problems and physical injuries to limbs and backs. Those people go through a process, which includes medical documentation, as I outlined to the Chair at the start of the meeting.

Deputy Chambers mentioned supplementary pensions for officers. I cannot negotiate the terms of reference for a supplementary pension here.

I addressed this at the recent Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, conference. I stated I will be in consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Officials from the Department and RACO have been in contact with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on this issue. The Deputy said the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, addressed the matter during question time. I have spoken to him about this, and I told RACO at its conference that I had spoken to the Minister. There is ongoing consultation between that Department, my officials, the representative associations and me. I cannot negotiate the terms of reference at this meeting. It is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

I do not agree with the Deputy regarding the numbers leaving. When I was appointed in May 2016, one of my first priorities was the number of members of the Permanent Defence Force and trying to get back up to a strength level of 9,500. We have a full budget for 9,500 members. In 2016, 569 members left and 619 people were taken in. It has been out there for quite some time that more people are joining then leaving. Since my appointment in May 2016 we have taken in just over 800 members, between enlisted ranks, the Naval Service, the Air Corps and cadets. There is ongoing recruitment. I have recruiting meetings on a quarterly basis, with Deputy Chief of Staff support, with all of those involved in recruitment to keep the pressure on and see where they are being trained, and I am quite content. It will take me some time. I have stated from the time of my appointment this will be a huge challenge as we are competing with a very strong economy, but this is a priority for me. We are taking in more than are leaving. Our strength level at the end of October was 9,219 personnel across all services.

The Deputy said that after their training personnel are not fully trained. This is absolutely not the truth. I am not sure if that is what the Deputy meant.