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

This is a net increase. I have been in office for one year. I am determined to deal with this. There are a number of interlocking issues. This Government has dealt substantially with pay. On completion of training, recruits start at €38,000 in year one. That increases to €39,400 in year two and €40,700 in year three. School-leaver cadets, on commissioning, are paid €41,962, or essentially €42,000, and after two years, they are promoted to lieutenant and their pay rises to €47,000. For a graduate joining, the pay rate, on commissioning, is €47,000. On the pay front, significant work has been done, including on a whole range of allowances.

The retirement issue is important. We have had a series of meetings with my colleague, the Minister for public expenditure, and other Ministers specifically on the retention issue. This will be significant in reducing the number of those leaving the Defence Forces. It is a bit early to see the impact of the patrol duty allowance in the Naval Service, but we are hopeful it will have some impact.

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