Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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25. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the proportion of the €21 million in additional current funding for his Department in 2018 that will go towards improving the pay and conditions of serving members of the Defence Forces. [3346/18]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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33. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the impact that recent changes in public sector pay rates and conditions will have on members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53458/17]

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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40. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the position regarding pay for personnel within the Defence Forces with particular reference to the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3155/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 33 and 40 together.

Rates of pay and conditions of employment in the Irish public sector have traditionally been set, inter alia, by reference to relative levels of pay across the various sectors of the Irish public sector. Like other areas within the Public Service, the pay of the Permanent Defence Force was reduced during the financial crisis. The reductions in pay and the introduction of a Pension Related Deduction was on a graduated basis with increased rates of deductions for those on higher earnings.

The Government appreciate the contribution made by all public servants, including members of the Permanent Defence Force, during the economic crisis and have taken measures to improve public sector pay. The focus of the increases is weighted in favour of those on lower pay.

PDFORRA signed up to the Lansdowne Road 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 have now been applied to the Permanent Defence Force. An increase of 2.5% from 1 January 2016, for annualised salaries up to €24,000 and 1% for annualised salaries between €24,001 and €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.

In addition to this, as a result of successful negotiations with PDFORRA, the pay of general service recruits and privates who joined the Permanent Defence Force post 1 January 2013, was increased further These improved payscales, were backdated to 1 July 2016 and the payments were made with backmoney due in August 2017. The starting pay for a newly qualified three star private, and their Naval Service equivalent, saw an increase from €21,800 to €27,000 (inclusive of military service allowance) gross annual earnings, with scope for further income from duties.

Going forward, there are further increases arising from the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020. This provides for increases in pay ranging from 6.2% to 7.4% over the lifetime of the agreement, with the focus once again on the lower paid.

The Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations, who participated in the negotiation process, accepted the terms of the agreement in December 2017. As a result of this all Permanent Defence Force personnel will benefit from the planned pay increases. Arrangements are being made to process the first increase due under the agreement, of 1% of annualised salary effective from 1 January 2018.

In respect of additional current funding of €21 million for the Department of Defence in 2018, some €12 million has been allocated to the Defence Vote to meet the adjustments in the pay and allowances for serving members of the Defence Forces arising under Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020. The balance of the additional funding is to go towards the Pension Vote, taking account of the increasing number of Defence Forces pensioners and adjustments to pensions for current pensioners due under the agreement.