Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have been at these committees for a long time and have never heard any criticism or major questioning of the Army pensions. It is superfluous to do anything other than reflect the usual commentary with any pension, which is that we have to do much more to protect those who are of pension age. People often presume that those who have an Army pension are well off, but that is not the case. Everyone on this committee will know men and women who have served their country honourably but are now down on their luck. Much more should be done to help those on military pensions who are in that position.

I will focus on two aspects of the second Vote, the first of which is the capital plan for 2020. The Minister listed several events that are due to happen this year or in the future. He mentioned the new medical facility to replace St. Bricin's Military Hospital. As there is nothing in the Estimates about St. Bricin's for this year, there is no need to mention it. There are no specifics for next year either. I do not know if a value for money audit has been undertaken on any of the plans with regard to St. Bricin's other than the expenditure of similar moneys on a facility in the Curragh which needs a lot of investment and could be much better placed in the future. That might be something for the committee to examine. Those of us who took part in the committee's visit to the Curragh last year saw the state of the facilities there. The works on accommodation are welcome but conditions in the Curragh are much worse than most people would consider acceptable. The same is true of many of the other barracks. I do not have a major problem with selling off St. Bricin's, but it is odd that a military base in the city centre is up for sale. There is a military logic for the location of military bases within countries which is often not understood.

The second issue has been teased out in many places including at this committee and in the media, namely the pay for those in the Defence Forces. I believe the figure in the Estimates is the figure for a full complement of 9,500. What happens to the allocation that is not spent? Every year, there is an underspend in the money set aside for wages and allowances for a full establishment figure of 9,500. Is the unspent money ring-fenced or pumped back in? Can it be given as a gratuity at the end of each year to those who are actually serving? Every family of Defence Force personnel would welcome that funding being spent where it is intended to assist those serving under tremendous strain given their low wages, as identified by this committee.