Written answers

Wednesday, 2 May 2018

Department of Defence

Defence Forces Remuneration

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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73. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to publish the assessment submitted by the Defence Forces to his Department in February 2018 on the loss of Defence Forces personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19312/18]

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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76. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when his Department's submission to the Public Service Pay Commission will be completed; when the report on the issues affecting pay and retention of personnel will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19315/18]

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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77. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the paper prepared by military authorities as part of the joint submission to the Public Service Pay Commission will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19316/18]

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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78. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has met with representatives of an organisation (details supplied) on the submission to the Public Service Pay Commission; if the views of the organisation will be included in the joint submission process; if the terms of reference of the examination by the commission includes meeting with representatives of the Defence Forces personnel, including the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19317/18]

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 76 to 78, inclusive, together.

In 2017, under my direction, the Department of Defence brought issues of recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces to the attention of the Public Sector Pay Commission (PSPC). As a direct result of that initiative the PSPC is now beginning an in-depth evidence based examination of those issues.

The Public Service Pay Commission has commenced this work and has requested hard data and detailed information from my Department. My Department has been working in close collaboration with Military management with the aim of preparing the material requested. The Military authorities have produced a paper. This is being considered by my Department having regard to the data and information requested.

My Department has forwarded an initial tranche of information to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to Air Corps pilots. Further material in relation to the challenges in the Defence sector will be forwarded to the submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the coming weeks as the collation of data and information is completed.

I understand that both PDFORRA and RACO have been requested to make a submissions by the Commission and have done so.

The Public Service Pay Commission is due to complete its exercise in the second half of 2018. The findings and proposals arising will be considered at that time.

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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74. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the estimated cost of restoring the scheme whereby a €22,000 bonus was paid to officers in the Air Corps over five years if they chose to extend their contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19313/18]

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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75. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the annual cost of the operation of the bonus scheme to retain officers in the Defence Forces for each of the ten years prior to its abolition; the number of personnel availing of the scheme; the rank of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19314/18]

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together.

The retention of Officers in the Defence Forces, in particular retaining Air Corps Pilot Officers, has been a challenge for the Defence Forces in recent years. The most recent Air Corps Pilot Service Commitment Scheme ran from 2002 to 2010 with the intention of retaining experienced AC Pilot Officers.

The following table illustrates the number of personnel who availed of the scheme, the rank of each and the annual cost of the operation.

YearNumbers of Personnel availing of the schemeRankAnnual Cost(€)
2002521 Capt, 29 Comdt, 19 Lt Col, 3 Col468,768.95
2003374 Capts, 16 Comdt, 7 Lt Col, 1 Col, 9 Brig Gen517,322.52
20049716 Capt, 50 Comdt, 28 Lt Col, 3 Col587,677.57
20058917 Capt, 46 Comdt, 23 Lt Col, 3 Col659,892.73
2006588 Capt, 32 Comdt, 16 Lt Col, 2 Col618,244.55
2007536 Capt, 30 Comdt, 15 Lt Col, 2 Col529,214.35
2008460 Capt, 27 Comdt, 17 Lt Col, 2 Col579,634.32
2009340 Capt, 19 Comdt, 13 Lt Col, 2 Col514,448.00
2010220 Capt, 13 Comdt, 7 Lt Col, 2 Col607,616.60
Total5,082,819.59

The Department of Defence brought the issue of the retention of certain specialist, including Air Corps pilots, to the attention of the Public Service Pay Commission in 2017. This matter is referenced in paragraph 6.29 of the Commission's report of May 2017.

The Government has tasked the Public Service Pay Commission with examining recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Sector in more detail and issues relating to recruitment and retention will be examined within this forum. In this context, the Public Service Pay Commission has requested detailed information from the Department of Defence.The Department has forwarded an initial tranche of information to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and further information will be sent in the coming weeks. The Public Service Pay Commission is due to complete work in this regard in the second half of 2018.

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