Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The number of public sector employees in my Department who are subject to a freeze on their increment payment in 2014 is set out in the table below. The table shows both the number of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and the number of civilian employees who are affected by the increment freeze.

Numbers on Incremental Pay Freeze: 2014

-	Number of employees
Permanent Defence Force	896
Civilian Employees	28

The numbers on incremental pay freeze relate to the period 1 July 2014 – 31 December 2014, as all employees were entitled to receive the first due increment arising after the period of commencement of the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA) on 1 July 2013, without any increment freeze applying.

The low numbers of civilian employees affected by the increment freeze reflect the fact that some 95% of the employees in this category are on the maximum point of their pay scales and the reduced level of recruitment that has taken place in recent years. The figures for the last quarter of 2014 are estimated due to the impact of retirements and any subsequent promotions or recruitment that may arise.

I understand that the figure for civil servants will be provided by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.