Written answers
Thursday, 20 June 2019
Department of Defence
Defence Forces Allowances
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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54. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the estimated cost of increasing the military service allowance by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25953/19]
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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It is estimated that the cost of increasing Military Service Allowance by 10% would be approximately €4.8 million in a full year.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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55. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the allocation for the military service allowance to serving members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25954/19]
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The allocation for Military Service Allowance (MSA) is included within the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) Pay allocation of the Defence Vote. In 2019, the PDF Pay allocation is €446.7 million. Total expenditure on MSA in 2018 was €46.5 million. MSA is paid to all ranks from Private up to the level of Colonel.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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56. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the estimated cost to restore the Saturday and Sunday premium rates for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25955/19]
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the Public Service Stability Agreement, 2013-2016, (the Haddington Road Agreement), all sectors across the public service were required to contribute to additional pay and productivity measures. Other sectors delivered these savings through a variety of approaches including additional working time and reduced rates of overtime payments.
The contribution from the Defence sector included a further reduction of 10% on the rate of certain allowances payable to the Defence Forces. As part of the cost saving measures to be secured under the agreement, it was also agreed with the Representative Associations that the Saturday and Sunday rates for Security Duty Allowance would be flat rated.
The cost of restoring the premium rates and the 10% cut to SDA introduced in the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2016, would be in the region of €2 million per annum. This figure is based on the 2018 payments of SDA. As security duties are demand led and the number of duties can fluctuate year on year, this variable must be taken into consideration in comparing any actual figures with speculative amounts.
It should be noted that the representative associations for the Permanent Defence Force, PDFORRA and RACO have made claims for the restoration of the premium rates which is being processed through the Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) Scheme. As discussions under the C&A scheme are confidential to the parties involved, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the matter at this time.
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