Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

488. To ask the Minister for Defence his views on recent claims regarding the standard of living of members of the Defence Forces that were made at the recent PDFORRA annual conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42170/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I was made aware of a number of issues for the first time at the recent PDFORRA annual conference and requested a report from my Department on the matters that arose concerning the standard of living of members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF). I presume the Deputy is referring to the claim that five members of the PDF were sleeping in cars because they could not afford the cost of commuting to their place of work, and claims that approximately 20% of PDFORRA’s membership are availing of Family Income Supplement.

I am fully committed to ensuring that the Defence Forces as a whole provides a challenging and rewarding career and that it does so in a supportive environment. There is no reason why any member of the PDF should be sleeping in their car. I am advised that military management wrote to the General Secretary of PDFORRA requesting information to facilitate the chain of command addressing any legitimate concerns of PDFORRA. I understand that a response has been received from PDFORRA and that individual issues raised within it are now being appropriately addressed through the normal operational chain of command.

PDFORRA also asserted that approximately 20% of their membership is availing of Family Income Supplement, qualifying for it because their take home pay had fallen owing to various Public Service Agreements and statutory deductions. As the circumstances surrounding an application for Family Income Supplement are a private matter between the applicant and the Department of Social Protection, my Department is not aware of the number of PDF members that may be in receipt of this financial assistance, or their individual circumstances.

The reason for Family Income Supplement is to support those on lower incomes. In this regard, the members of the PDF are in no different a position than many other employees in the public and private sector on low to middle incomes who are facing difficulties in the current economic environment. Various factors can give rise to Family Income Supplement claims. However, the important point is that, despite the difficult economic environment, the Government has maintained this important safety net for families who by virtue of their particular circumstances require such financial support.

It remains open to PDFORRA, subject to the terms of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for the PDF and the Croke Park and Haddington Road Agreements, to avail of the mechanisms in place should they wish to pursue any particular concerns in relation to the pay and conditions of their members.