Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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43. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps taken by his Department to address the pay and conditions of the Defence Forces personnel as highlighted by a group (details supplied) in a recent protest. [53034/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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This question is to ascertain whether the Minister of State has taken any steps to address the poor terms and conditions experienced by members of the Defence Forces, as highlighted a fortnight ago by the Wives and Partners of the Defence Forces, WPDF, organisation when it organised a 24-hour vigil outside Leinster House on Wednesday, 29 November.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Rates of pay and conditions of employment in the Defence Forces have traditionally been set by reference to relative levels of pay across the various sectors of the Irish public sector. Like other areas within the public service, the pay of the Permanent Defence Force was reduced during the financial crisis. The Government appreciates the contribution made by all public servants, including members of the Permanent Defence Force, during the economic crisis and is taking measures to restore pay across all sectors. The focus of the increases are weighted in favour of those on lower pay.

The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 to 2015, otherwise known as the FEMPI legislation, and the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2018 - the Lansdowne Road agreement - define current pay policy. Successful negotiations with the Permanent Defence Force representative associations have provided for pay increases to Permanent Defence Force personnel under the Lansdowne Road agreement. The Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, signed up to the Lansdowne Road agreement in March 2017. The finalisation of negotiations under the agreement allowed for the commencement of the process for the implementation of pay increases and arrears, which have now been applied to the Permanent Defence Force.

An increase of 2.5% from 1 January 2016, for annualised salaries up to €24,000 and 1% for annualised salaries between €24,001 and €31,000 was paid in July 2017. An increase of €1,000 from 1 April 2017, on annualised salaries up to €65,000 per annum, was also paid in July 2017. In addition, improved payscales for general service recruits and privates who joined the Permanent Defence Force post 1 January 2013, were backdated to 1 July 2016 and paid in August 2017.

The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 contains proposals for a series of pay increases over the three years of the agreement ranging from 6.2% to 7.4% with the benefits to different income groups weighted towards those on lower pay. The agreement also provides for the restoration of the 5% reduction in allowances under FEMPI from 1 October 2020. The proposals have been presented for consideration to the Permanent Defence Force representative associations that participated in the negotiation process on the agreement. They are subject to ballot by members of the associations. The agreement will bring undoubted benefits to members of the Permanent Defence Force.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Does the Minister of State accept the pay is so low that one in five members rely on social welfare payments to cover food and living costs? Does he accept that there has been a dramatic increase in the number of Defence Forces members qualifying for the family income supplement payments and that some Defence Forces members sleep in their cars because they cannot afford to get petrol to allow them to travel to and from work? Is he aware that last week, one mother told the public and the media how she chose food for her children over medication for her depression and that in another case, a child was heard to say, "It's okay, mammy, we will get dinner when daddy gets paid"? Does the Minister of State understand that there is a need to address this problem quickly? If that does not happen there will be an even greater outflow of members from the Defence Forces, thus creating a greater crisis?

The Minister of State read out proposals. Proposals are not good enough, considering the approach that has been taken by the Government in recent years, continuously targeting those who provide vital service to the State. Most of the concerns that PDFORRA, the Defence Forces members and the WPDF group have outlined thus far have not been addressed.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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There has been a decrease in the number of people in receipt of family income supplement. The latest figure is 117, but it has decreased since the pay increases came into being.

I have heard reports of Defence Forces members having to sleep in cars. I do not dispute it but if it is the case and the Deputy has examples, I would appreciate it if he would bring those cases to my attention. I will bring them to the attention of the Defence Forces and the members of PDFORRA or RACO, whichever association to which the members belong. Help and assistance is available from both of those associations for such cases. I would appreciate it if the Deputy could pass those names to me.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I will ask those who have supplied me with the information to provide the examples. However, sometimes there is a concern that if a problem is highlighted it might lead to victimisation.

One issue the members have requested that the Minister of State might address is that the duty and sea-going allowances be fully restored to the previous rate, from €20 to €75 for a 24-hour period. Has the Minister of State committed to a review of the Defence Forces pay and conditions, in particular the allowances, to ascertain whether they are appropriate for this day and age? Has the Minister of State managed to meet the WPDF group? They are in a much better position than I am to explain exactly how the families of the Defence Forces members have to survive when their loved one is at sea or deployed overseas.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I will make sure that nobody is victimised, nor should they be victimised, if they approach either association because they have fallen on hard times. I find it unbelievable to think that people would be victimised in such a way. The Deputy spoke about the 24-hour duty allowance. I met the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, two weeks ago to discuss this matter. The officials from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my own officials will have further negotiations on this. The rest of the allowances are covered under the public service stability agreement to 2021. I understand that one of the biggest concerns of the associations and members of the Defence Forces is the issue of the 24-hour allowance and that is one of the reasons I approached the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, and asked him for a meeting. I understand the frustrations of members of the Defence Forces on this specific issue.