Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1738. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the fact that some members of the Defence Forces have to apply for family income supplement in view of the fact their salary is too low; if this issue will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35505/17]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1739. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the fact that some members of the Defence Forces have to get a second job to supplement their income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35506/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1738 and 1739 together.

The rates of remuneration and conditions of employment in the Defence Forces are set by reference to relative levels of pay across the various parts of the public sector. The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts of 2009-2015 and the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2018 (the Lansdowne Road Agreement) define current pay policy for Public Servants and members of the Permanent Defence Force.

The Lansdowne Road Agreement (LRA) included proposals to increase salaries during 2016 and 2017. These benefits come in the form of increases in gross pay in 2016 for those earning up to €31,000 and in 2017 for all those earning up to €65,000. PDFORRA, (the representative association for enlisted personnel), signed up to the agreement in March 2017. The finalisation of negotiations under the agreement allowed for the commencement of the process for the implementation of pay increases and arrears, which are now being applied to their members.

An increase of 2.5% from 1 January 2016, for annualised salaries up to €24,000 and 1% for annualised salaries between €24,001 to €31,000 was included in the weekly payroll of 5 July 2017. An increase of €1,000 from 1 April 2017, on annualised salaries up to €65,000 per annum was paid on 19 July 2017.

The pay of general service recruits and privates who joined the Permanent Defence Force post 1 January 2013 will be increased further following an agreement reached between the Department of Defence, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and PDFORRA. This revised payscale, which will be backdated to 1 July 2016, and will see the gross pay for general service recruits and privates, who joined the PDF post 1 January 2013, rise by between €2,000 and €6,000 per annum, depending on their point on the incremental payscale. Arrangements are being made to process these payments.

Going forward, there is also potential for further increases arising from the recent negotiations on the extension to the Lansdowne Road Agreement. The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 contains proposals for:

- a 7.25% increase over the period of the agreement for those earning less than €30,000 per annum

- a 6.75% increase over the period of the agreement for those earning between €30,001 and €32,000 per annum, and

- a 5.75% increase over the period of the agreement for those earning over €32,000 per annum.

The proposals have been presented to the Defence Forces Representative Associations who participated in the negotiation process. They will now be subject to ballot by members of the Associations. Future remuneration of Defence Forces personnel will continue to be dealt with within this process.