Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The 24 hour duty allowance is part of the submission the Department has put in. The Senator spoke about technical pay for cooks and related adjudications. There are a number of outstanding adjudications and findings across the public service, including the Defence Forces, which cannot be implemented having regard to the provisions in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 to 2015. There are four adjudication findings outstanding relating to the defence sector. One relates to increased technical pay for cooks and supervisory cooks from group 2 to group 3, subject to successful completion of two training modules and completion of four years as cooks, effective from 1 June 2006. Another was the Army Ranger Wing allowance, which was increased to €200 per week with effect from 1 June 2006. Another was the regime of charging recruits and apprentices for rations and accommodation during their training period, while another was that the account holder's allowance should continue to be applied to NCOs who have taken up duty since 1 January 2012.

The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 provides for a consideration of the process to address the outstanding adjudications across the public service and having due regard to the question of their continued validity and cost implications. On this specific issue, discussions with the relevant representative association commenced last week. My officials and PDFORRA were in discussions specifically on these issues last week, and I hope agreement will be reached. There is a financial reward for people with outstanding adjudications but it also has a financial reward for recruits and apprentices who pay for rations.

There are a number of challenges within the Air Corps, including the air ambulance service. I have spoken to both military management and my departmental officials. The air ambulance service is an important service in the mid-west and I would be the first to acknowledge that. It has saved lives and I have stated that it needs to be kept and continued out of Athlone.