Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 provides for the reduction of public service salaries of up to €125,000 by 5% on the first €30,000 of salary, 7.5% on the next €40,000 of salary and 10% on the next €55,000 of salary. The Act also provides for a 5% reduction in the fixed-rate allowances payable to such public servants. It is estimated that gross savings of approximately €34 million will accrue in 2010 arising from the application of the pay reductions across the Department of Defence. There are three broad categories of employees on the Department's payroll. The payroll numbers affected in each category on 1 January 2010 were 9,915 military personnel, including Army nursing service personnel; 402 civil servants, including Civil Defence personnel; and 760 civilian employees. Based on the payroll outturn for 2009 and the average numbers in each category in that year, it is estimated that the average percentage pay reduction for each category will be 5.8% for military personnel, 5.9% for civil servants and 5.4% for civilian employees. Members of the Reserve Defence Force on paid training will be paid at the same reduced rates as their Permanent Defence Force counterparts.

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