Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State confirmed two things for all the military personnel looking in on proceedings. The pay budget is €24 million below what was budgeted for so far this year. That is because of the mass exodus under the watch of the Minister of State. They are not being paid the appropriate allowances and they are on the poverty line. The Minister of State is yet to outline where he will find the €10 million. He was at the RACO conference, speaking of how he had found €10 million and how he fought for the personnel and the Defence Forces. Will he seek an extra €10 million from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform or will he take the €10 million from the unspent €24 million on some of the retention issues? Despite the €10 million in the pay commission report, once again there will be a surplus in the pay budget. It is shocking that once again under the Minister of State's tenure, he will have a surplus in the pay allocation when there is such a crisis in retention and so many members of the Defence Forces are on the poverty line. It is very worrying that spending is €24 million under profile.

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