Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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31. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel currently in receipt of family income supplement and housing assistance payments; his views on pay levels in the Defence Forces in view of the fact that in 2013 over 20% of Defence Forces personnel were in receipt of FIS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15260/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Rates of remuneration and conditions of employment in each part of the Irish public sector have traditionally been set by reference to levels of pay available in related public sector employments.

I fully appreciate that many of our citizens continue to face some difficulties in the current economic and fiscal environment, including members of the Defence Forces. The Government is making every effort, within available resources, to support all those who face hardship. In addition, there are various schemes in place through the Department of Social Protection, including Family Income Supplement, housing Assistance to support those on low incomes.

The circumstances surrounding an application for Family Income Supplement, or indeed any other scheme operated by the Department of Social Protection, is a private matter between the applicant and the Department of Social Protection. I am, therefore, not aware of the eligibility of individual members of the Permanent Defence Force to receive such allowances, or the total numbers of Defence Force members that may be in receipt of this financial support. Various factors can give rise to such claims. However, the important thing is that, despite the difficult economic environment we have witnessed over the last few years, the Government has maintained this important safety net for families who by virtue of their particular circumstances require financial support.

In terms of remuneration going forward, the new Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC), announced by my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, has been tasked with providing objective analysis and advice to the Government on public service remuneration, including the Defence Forces, in the context of the FEMPI Acts 2009 - 2015 and is due to report in the coming months. Once this report is available, the Government intends to initiate negotiations on a successor to the Lansdowne Road Agreement ahead of Budget 2018 considerations. Future remuneration of Defence Forces personnel will be dealt with within this process.