Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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168. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the Defence Forces veterans and families' march over pay and conditions. [43217/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the views expressed and the issues raised in relation to the Parade which took place on 19 September 2018. I note in particular the call for the restoration of pay.

Similar to other areas of the public service, the pay of Permanent Defence Force personnel was reduced as one of the measures necessary to stabilise national finances during the financial crisis.

The economic recovery and a resumption of economic growth has provided the fiscal resources to provide for a sustainable and fair recovery in public service payscales.

Defence Forces pay and that of other public servants is increasing in accordance with public sector pay agreements. The focus of these increases is weighted in favour of those on lower pay. The Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations balloted their members, who voted to accept the terms of these pay agreements.

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 under this agreement from 1 January 2018 has been paid to Permanent Defence Force personnel and a second increase has been applied from 1 October 2018. Further increases in pay under this agreement 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 Financial Emergency in the Public Interest (FEMPI) levels. The restoration of the 5% reduction to allowances cut under FEMPI is also scheduled in the agreement.

The recently announced proposal by the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and reform in respect of new entrant payscales will also benefit those who joined the Defence Forces since January 2011.

Measures such as the implementation of the Working Time Directive for members of the Permanent Defence Force and a review of contracts for enlisted personnel are under active consideration. The Department of Defence is engaging with the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations on these matters through the Conciliation and Arbitration scheme.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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169. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a review will be carried out into the pay and conditions of Defence Forces veterans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43218/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I recognise the valued public service given by former servicemen and women of the Defence Forces to the State. As such, officials from my Department and I hold regular meetings with recognised Veterans’ Associations at which issues of concern to their members are discussed.

My Department has Service Level Agreements with the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (O.N.E.) and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) which set out the services the Department provides to these Associations. Under the terms of these SLAs my Department provides financial support by way of an annual subvention to O.N.E. and IUNVA to encourage their valuable efforts and the range of services they offer to ex-service personnel. In further recognition of this work, last week I announced that I was increasing my Department’s annual grant to O.N.E. from €44,000 to €100,000. This significant increase in the grant will make a substantial contribution to the work of O.N.E.

I was honoured to recently officially open a new Veteran Support Centre located in Custume Barracks Athlone I am strongly supportive of O.N.E.’s plans to establish further Veteran Support Centres around the country. Fitting out new Centres with equipment, training volunteers and the increased administration and insurance liability will increase O.N.E.’s overheads. The increase in the grant will defray some of these costs and allow O.N.E. to press ahead and bring to fruition their plans for a network of Veteran Support Centres nationwide.

I am also supportive of the annual Veterans’ Day and the launch of O.N.E.’s annual Fuchsia fundraising appeal and I am committed to continued engagement with Veterans’ Associations into the future.