Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Defence the cost of issuing hard-copy payslips to all employees paid by him; the number of staff issued with such payslips; the steps being taken to only issue payslips by electronic means; the timetable involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32679/11]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Defence the cost of issuing hard-copy payslips to all employees of agencies accountable to him; the number of staff issued with such payslips; the steps being taken to only issue payslips by electronic means; the timetable involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32694/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 128 together.

The cost of issuing payslips to all employees and pensioners paid by me (including cheques/payslips) for 2010 was in the region of €137k. The number of employees who received hard copy payslips for the year 2010 is as follows:

· Defence Forces Personnel 9,746

· Defence Forces Reserve 3,170 (occasional payments)

· Defence Forces Civilian Employees 736

· Civil Servants 67

· Pensioners 11,163

The Department is currently investigating and testing a technical option for the provision of payroll information to Defence Forces personnel by electronic means that is cost effective and overcomes the fact that many Defence Forces personnel do not have access to electronic information in the normal course of their duties. The number of employees in agencies accountable to me is thirty two. Twenty two of these receive payroll information via the Department's intranet facility. Therefore, the cost of issuing hard copy payslips to the remaining ten employees is negligible.