Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Again, that was a decision taken prior to my coming into office but nonetheless it is important to point out the 2023 Revised Estimate for Defence of over €915 million includes an overall pay allocation of €546 million, which is an increase of €19 million on the Revised Estimate for 2022. This overall allocation provides, inter alia, for all costs associated with the existing Building Momentum pay deal, for the recruitment of the head of transformation and strategic HR roles in the Defence Forces and for the implementation of a range of sectoral measures that impact on Permanent Defence Force, PDF, pay and allowances, as identified and prioritised by the Commission on the Defence Forces.

Some €468 million has been provided for the pay of members of the Permanent Defence Force. In previous years, as part of a long-standing arrangement, pay funding was allocated for the PDF establishment strength of 9,500, with any unused funding arising from PDF strengths falling below establishment being utilised to address spending pressures elsewhere in the Vote group, in accordance with Government financial procedures and in agreement with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.

However, as the Deputy said, a revised approach was introduced as part of the 2023 Estimates with pay funding for the year being based on prevailing strength, plus an anticipated net increase of 400 personnel, with non-pay subheads of the Defence Vote increased in recognition of the change from the previous unique arrangement. Arising from this changed approach to pay funding, plus additional resources provided as part of the budget, the overall non-pay allocation on the Defence Vote has increased by over €60 million in 2023, which is a rise of 21%, with virtually all non-pay subheads benefiting from an increased allocation. Therefore, the change has been of benefit to the Defence Vote overall. There is a guarantee there that as numbers increase, there is no issue with current provision for salaries into the future. The key issue from now on is that the level of funding allocated in budget 2023 and future budgets enables the Defence Forces to deliver effectively on their key domestic and international responsibilities and facilitates the structural, HR and cultural transformation required and recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces.

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