Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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76. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his Department, in conjunction with the command structure within the Defence Forces, has reached a decision on improving the special allowances paid to soldiers. [48209/18]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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77. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which pay and conditions for the Defence Forces continues to receive appropriate attention with particular reference to ongoing concerns in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48350/18]

Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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78. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress made in addressing the low pay rates for lower ranked members of the Defence Forces. [48208/18]

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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86. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps being taken to ensure better pay and working conditions for members of the Defence Forces; the steps being taken to ensure appropriate supports are available to both current and former members of the Defence Forces who may be experiencing financial difficulties; if he is satisfied that recruitment methods are sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48216/18]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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92. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the initiatives he has suggested to improve Defence Forces pay and conditions. [47824/18]

Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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98. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if allowances and payments will be restored to Defence Forces personnel in line with the restoration of allowances to other public sector workers; if so, if the allowances will be restored prior to Christmas to alleviate financial distress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48437/18]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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99. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which issues relating to pay and conditions within the Defence Forces have been resolved or are under review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48627/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 to 78, inclusive, 86, 92, 98 and 99 together.

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.

The recovery in the economy has provided the fiscal resources to provide for a fair and sustainable recovery in public service pay scales.

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.

In 2016, the Government established the Public Service Pay Commission to provide objective advice to Government in relation to Public Service pay policy. Following the publication of the Public Service Pay Commission report in May 2017, the Government initiated negotiations on an extension to the Lansdowne Road Agreement.

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 focus of these increases is weighted in favour of those on lower pay. The increases due from 1 January 2018 and 1 October 2018 have been paid to Permanent Defence Force personnel. 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 interventions at points 4 and 8 of the relevant pay scales for all such new entrants to the public service. This measure, should it be accepted by the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations, will be effective from 1 March 2019.

There are many factors and personal circumstances which can give rise to an individual needing support and advice in respect of particular financial difficulties. The Personnel Support Service provides a confidential information, education, support and referral service to Defence Forces personnel and their families, giving access to information and services within and outside the military community.

In accordance with the provisions of Public Services Stability Agreement 2018-2020, the Government has tasked the Public Service Pay Commission with conducting a more comprehensive examination of the specific recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Forces, which the Commission identified in Chapter 6 of its report in May 2017.

The Department of Defence and military management have collated and prepared the data requested. An initial tranche of material relating to Air Corps pilots was submitted earlier this year. Further material relating to the broader Defence sector has been sent to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform who are co-ordinating the response on behalf of the Public Service Pay Commission.

The Commission's work is on-going. The Government will give due consideration to the findings and recommendations that arise from the work of the Commission.