Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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109. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps taken to ensure that all branches of the Defence Forces have ready access to pay and service conditions comparable to the conditions of those branches alongside which they may be deployed on overseas missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21765/19]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Rates of pay and conditions of employment in the Defence Forces have traditionally been set by, amongst other things, reference to levels of pay across the various sectors of the Irish public service.  Basic pay is just an element of the overall remuneration package for members of the Permanent Defence Force. In addition to basic pay, a range of duties attract additional allowances.

Overseas Peace Support Allowance is paid to members of the Permanent Defence Force participating in overseas military operations on direction of the Government. Overseas Armed Peace Support Allowance is paid in addition to the Overseas Peace Support Allowance to members of an armed contingent of the Permanent Defence Force which has been dispatched for overseas military operations. These allowances are paid tax-free.

Certain overseas appointments attract expense-related allowances to ensure that Military Staff are not “out of pocket” as a consequence of necessarily incurred expenses in the discharge of their duties while living abroad. These expenses include a Cost of Living Allowance associated with a higher cost of living index at the post abroad, a Local Post Allowance and a rent allowance, where applicable.