Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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33. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps that have been taken or are being taken to address the difficulties in both recruiting and maintaining members of the Defence Forces, including the reintroduction of the service commitment scheme, in view of the loss of trained specialist Defence Forces personnel to the private sector and the restoration of the security duty allowance payable for weekend duties to 2010 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20211/18]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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37. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps that have been taken to address difficulties regarding recruitment to the Defence Forces in respect of the Public Service Pay Commission report published in May 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20212/18]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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44. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of personnel who have exited the Defence Forces, excluding mandatory retirements, to date in 2018; the overall number he anticipates for 2018, excluding mandatory retirements; his views on the fact that the current pay and conditions of the Defences Forces are forcing personnel to consider employment in other areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20426/18]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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45. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel who have left in each of the years 2000 to 2017 and to date 2018; the average length of the service; if an analysis has taken place to address the problems of retention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20413/18]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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46. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of personnel serving in the Permanent Defence Forces to date; the projected enlistment by the end of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20428/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 37 and 44 to 46, inclusive, together.

The Defence Forces have a higher level of turnover than other areas of the public service and this is a feature of military organisations internationally.

Rates of pay and conditions of employment in the Permanent Defence Force have traditionally been set by, amongst other things, reference to levels of pay across the various sectors of the Irish public service. Defence Forces' pay is increasing in accordance with public sector pay agreements. The focus of these increases is weighted in favour of those on lower pay. The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 provides for further increases in pay ranging from 6.2% to 7.4% over the lifetime of the Agreement with the focus of the agreement once again being on the lower paid. The first 1% increase in annualised salaries due from 1 January 2018 has been paid to members of the Permanent Defence Force.

In 2017, under my direction, the Department of Defence raised recruitment and retention issues as part of the submission to the Public Service Pay Commission. The Department of Defence brought the issue of certain specialists, 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. In a further acknowledgement of these issues the Government tasked the Public Service Pay Commission with examining these challenges in the Defence Sector in more detail.

The Public Service Pay Commission has commenced this work and has requested detailed information from the Department of Defence. My Department has forwarded an initial tranche of information to the Deaprtment of Public Expenditure and Reform. Further data and information in relation to the Defence sector will be forwarded in the coming weeks as the collation of data and information is completed. The Public Service Pay Commission is due to complete this work in the second half of 2018. The findings and proposals arising will be considered at that time.

There is also an ongoing programme of HR development within the Defence Organisation, of which part is aimed at ensuring that there is an appropriate work-life balance. The Chief of Staff is actively addressing certain matters in the Defence Forces to this end. I have also initiated a number of initiatives ranging from a review of the C&A scheme, a review of the criteria governing contracts for enlisted personnel and a comprehensive skills gap analysis across the Defence Forces. I am also bringing forward measures to allow former members of the Defence Forces with specialist skills, to re-enter the Defence Forces.

There are significant recruitment opportunities currently available in the Defence Forces, at both enlisted and officer level, for eligible individuals who wishes to have a rewarding and positive career in service to the State.

A General Service Recruitment campaign and the 2018 Officer Cadetships competition both closed last month and the applications are being progressed. A competition for Air Corps Apprentices is currently open. The Naval Service is currently recruiting Direct Entry Officers for Bridge Watch-keeping, Marine Engineering and Electrical Engineering roles. The Defence Forces are also accepting applications from qualified doctors for careers in the Medical Corps.

The measures I have set out address a range of factors and are aimed at ensuring that the Defence Forces remains a career of choice, and to ensuring that the Defence Forces retain the capabilities to undertake the roles assigned by Government.

In the context of discussions surrounding the proposals for Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2016 (Haddington Road Agreement), the Defence sector was required to deliver savings of €10m per annum by 2015. This was to be achieved through the reduction in certain military allowances and the elimination of some other military allowances. As part of the agreement negotiated between civil and military management and the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations, the Saturday and Sunday rates for Security Duty and related allowances were flat-rated, i.e. the standard Monday to Friday rate was to be payable for such duties carried out on a Saturday or a Sunday. Both PDFORRA and RACO have submitted claims for the restoration of the rates through the Conciliation & Arbitration (C&A) Scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. As discussions under the C&A Scheme are confidential to the parties involved, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the matter at this time.

The following table, provided by the Military Authorities, shows the average length of years of service, by rank.

The military authorities have provided the following table showing the numbers that exited each year.

According to the military authorities, as of 30th April 2018, 147 members of the Defence Forces exited on a voluntary basis. It is not possible to estimate such non-mandatory retirements for the remainder of 2018 with any accuracy.

As of the 31st March, the whole time equivalent strength of the Defence Forces was 8,993 personnel. As of 4th May, the Defence Forces have inducted 159 personnel consisting of 157 General Service Army and Naval Service recruits and two (2) Direct Entry Medical Officers. The projected inductions by the end of 2018, the military authorities advise me, is 800 personnel.

With the support of the Chief of Staff I am committed to ensuring that there is on-going recruitment to the Defence Forces and that the Permanent Defence Force can continue to operate effectively across all roles assigned by Government, both at home and overseas.