Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

132. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to improve the duty money rate and the payment system to ensure persons are paid in seven working days. [24282/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Defence Forces pay is increasing in accordance with public sector pay agreements. The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 provides for increases in pay ranging from 6.2% to 7.4% over the lifetime of the Agreement with the focus of the agreement on the lower paid. The restoration of cuts to allowances will also be considered in the context of the Agreement.

The process for the payment of Security Duty Allowances is that all approved claims are downloaded electronically from the Defence Forces Personnel Management System on the 10th of each month (or closest working day) and sent to the Department’s Finance Branch from where they are immediately forwarded electronically to the Department’s payroll provider – the National Shared Services Office - for payment in the next available payroll. (Payrolls are prepared in advance of each pay day). In May 2018, over 16,000 claims were processed from all units throughout the Defence Force for some 4,200 members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF).

The above arrangements, which have been in place since April 2017, replaced a manual system of processing claims. The process is contained in a Defence Forces Administrative Instruction which sets out the responsibilities of all relevant appointment holders involved. While all financial processes are kept under regular review, there are no proposals under consideration to change the current arrangements.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

133. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to increase aircraft technician tech pay to coincide with developments in aircraft technology. [24283/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A review of technician pay in the Defence Forces is ongoing. There are no plans at this stage to increase aircraft technician pay.

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, which will include an examination of certain specialist positions and technician grades.

The Public Service Pay Commission has commenced this work and has requested hard data and detailed information from my Department. Defence management are preparing this material which will be sent to the Commission shortly.

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

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

134. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to introduce changes for aircraft apprentices in both pay and rank to increase the attractiveness of the position. [24284/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There were 22 Air Corps apprentices inducted into the Defence Forces in 2017. The most recent competition for apprentices was launched on 2nd March 2018 and ran until 25th May 2018. This competition yielded 931 applications for the 28 available positions. These applications are now being processed.

Rates of pay and conditions of employment within the Irish public service in general, 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. A 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 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. Defence management have forwarded some material and further material will be sent to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the coming weeks. 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.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

135. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to stop welfare deductions from soldiers' pay; and the services listed in DFR S3 from the Defence Forces budget in accordance with the Payment of Wages Act 1991. [24285/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Paragraph 34 of Defence Force Regulation (DFR) S3 provides for a deduction of 24p (30c) a week from the pay of a soldier as a contribution towards meeting expenses relating to the provision of articles and services provided for the welfare, recreation and comfort of members such as administrative expenses in connection with arrangements made for personal laundry services and the provision of sports equipment and other such items.

This matter was the subject of a recent Labour Court appeal arising from a case taken to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) by a member of the Defence Forces. The Labour Court determined that the appeal was not allowed and affirmed the original WRC decision that the deductions referred to were made under statute and were not in contravention of the Payment of Wages Act 1991.

Specifically, the Court found that welfare deductions from soldiers' pay came within the scope of section 5(1) of the Payment of Wages Act 1991, being deductions authorised by an instrument made under statute, namely Defence Force Regulation S3 paragraph 34, made under the Defence Act 1954.

The Court also found that the deduction was not made in respect of goods or services supplied to or provided for the employee by the employer the supply or provision of which was necessary to the employment. The Court further found that the deduction at issue in this case came within the scope of section 5(5)(c) of the Payment of Wages Act 1991.

The full decision of the Labour Court in this matter is available on their website (www.workplacerelations.ie),under reference number PWD1819.

The position concerning welfare reductions remains unchanged.