Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of soldiers who still receive a Border allowance; the reason this allowance is paid; the amount of money paid annually under this heading; the way in which he will respond to the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32965/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Border Allowance was introduced in 1972 for personnel engaged on duties in Border Units. The duties of the personnel involved was of a most arduous and responsible nature involving service far in excess of normal duty hours. The accommodation and the amenities at the time were below standard and the personnel who were deployed from their permanent stations on a temporary basis to Border Units suffered considerable disruption to family life.

At the end of August 2008 there were 64 officers and 999 other ranks in receipt of Border Allowance. The total amount of Border Allowance paid in 2007 was €5,378,888.00. To-date in 2008 €3,674,556.00 has been paid out in Border Allowance. It should be noted as stated in the Comptroller and Auditor General's Report that those in receipt of Border Duty Allowance do not receive the security duty allowance which is payable to Defence Force personnel when engaged in specific security duties. The removal of the Border Duty Allowance therefore would be partly offset by the payment of security duty allowance where appropriate.

I am satisfied that the conditions that led to the introduction of Border Duty Allowance no longer exist. However, changes in pay and conditions have to be addressed through the Conciliation and Arbitration machinery. This position was addressed by the inclusion of a review of Border Duty Allowance in the Defence Forces Modernisation Agenda, agreed under "Towards 2016" with the Representative Associations. The review with the Associations is progressing. It is intended that implementation of changes agreed through the review will begin during the lifetime of the "Towards 2016" agreement. As discussions between the Department and the Representative Associations are confidential to the parties involved it would not be appropriate to comment further on this aspect of the issue.