Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

RACO and PDFORRA have accepted the independent pay commission's report.

I presume Deputy Jack Chambers would have preferred if they had not accepted it. Then he would have something to give out about. I am delighted they accepted it. I understand that the Deputy was not expecting it himself. Broadly speaking, for the majority of projects the times are currently being met. Of the 15 projects, five are being led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, of which four projects were dependent on acceptance of the pay agreement and of associated recommendations of the Public Service Pay Commission, which has now occurred. The fifth project, the review of pay structures, is a medium-term project being led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The remaining ten projects are being led by my Department, of which eight are up and running as follows. The review of technical pay, R2, is well advanced with an initial priority for the Air Corps, the Naval Service and the Communications and Information Services Corps, CIS. This was to be focused on one group but I insisted that we prioritise the three areas in which we have the most challenges, namely the Air Corps, the Naval Service and the CIS. Maybe if the Deputy thinks I should take one of them out, he will tell me which one. The project on the incentivised long service pay arrangement is progressing well. A draft report has been prepared and is currently under consideration with the Department of Defence and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Project R5 is nearing completion. Project R6 is progressing well and is on target for completion next year. Project R7 is on target and significant research is ongoing through the Defence Forces mental health and well-being working group. Project R8, the review of current retention strategies, is complete and research into the retention measures within the Permanent Defence Force, PDF, is nearing finalisation. The focus of the project has now moved to proposing further non-pay measures.

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