Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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83. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to deal with the outstanding issues of low pay across the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40062/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Defence Forces continue to offer excellent career prospects with opportunities for lifelong learning and self development for new and serving members.

Similar to other sectors in the public service, the pay of Permanent Defence Force personnel was reduced as one of the measures to assist in stabilising national finances during the financial crisis.

Pay is being restored to members of the Defence Forces and other public servants in accordance with public sector pay agreements. The focus of these increases is weighted in favour of those on lower pay.

Members of the Permanent Defence Force have received the pay increases due under the Lansdowne Road Agreement. In addition in 2017, following negotiations with PDFORRA improved pay scales for general service recruits and privates, who joined the Permanent Defence Force post 1 January 2013, were implemented.

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. The first increase due from 1 January 2018 has been paid to Permanent Defence Force personnel and a second increase is due to be applied from 1 October 2018. In fact enlisted members of the Permanent Defence Force will see the increase in today's wage packet. Further increases in pay are scheduled for 2019 and 2020.

By the end of the current Public Service Pay agreement the pay of all public servants (including members of the Defence Forces), earning under €70,000 per annum, will be restored to pre FEMPI levels. The restoration of the 5% reduction to allowances cut under FEMPI is also scheduled in the agreement.

New entrants who joined the Defence Forces since 2011 will also benefit from the measures which were recently announced in relation to amendments to the pay scales for all such new entrants to the public servants. This amendment should it be accepted by the Representative Associations will be effective from 1 March 2019.

The Public Service Pay Commission was established to provide objective advice to Government in relation to Public Service remuneration policy. 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 conducting an in-depth evidence based examination of those issues.

The Department of Defence has provided comprehensive data, as requested by the PSPC, for consideration. This data was sourced by a joint civil-military group. The Commission's work is on-going. I am aware that the Commission has been surveying members of the Defence Forces and have been facilitated in doing this by Defence Forces military management. The Department of Defence will continue to engage with the Public Service Pay Commission throughout the process and will give due consideration to the findings and recommendations that arise from the work of the Commission.