Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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121. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has examined the possibility of creating a pay commission for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4080/20]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Defence Forces personnel have received the benefits of collective pay agreements in the past and it is intended that the future remuneration of Defence Forces personnel will continue to be dealt with within this established process.

It is the position that the current Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) is currently delivering pay benefits of between 7.4% and 6.2% (or up to 10% for new entrants hired after 2012) for our public servants, including Defence Force personnel at a cost of over €1.1 billion, out to 2021.

In addition, the Public Service Pay Commission was specifically tasked under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 to conduct a comprehensive examination of recruitment and retention within the Defence Forces. Their published report was accepted by Government on 4 July 2019. The Report contains a broad range of recommendations which include:

- An increase of 10% in the Military Service Allowance which is a unique payment to the Defence Forces and paid to the majority of ranks. The overall annual estimated cost of this measure is €4.8 million p.a.

- Restoration of a 10% reduction in respect of duty allowances such as Security Duty Allowance and Patrol Duty Allowance that were introduced under the Haddington Road Agreement. The 10% cuts to overseas allowances was also restored. The overall estimated cost of the restoration of these measures is €3.3 million p.a.

- Restoration of premium weekend payment rates which were approximately halved under the Haddington Road Agreement. The annual estimated cost of this measure is €1.4 million p.a.

- Restoration of the Pilots Service Commitment Scheme for Flying Officers which is aimed at attracting pilots to continue in service on being able to stand down from the Air Corps. This Scheme was withdrawn in 2010. The cost of this measure is estimated at €600,00 p.a. depending on take up.

The Government also approved a high level plan for the implementation of the recommendations in the Report which provides for further measures in the short, medium and longer term.

The increase in Military Service Allowance and the restoration of the rates of the other allowances, as recommended by the Public Service Pay Commission, have been paid and are in addition to measures relating to core pay which are in the current Public Service Stability Agreement.

The Pay Commission’s recommendations on the Defence Forces, taken together with the pay measures provided for under the PSSA, represent a tangible package of pay improvements for the members of our Defence Forces.

Public pay has been, and continues to be, determined in a public service wide context in Ireland and in a collective bargaining context under the framework of successive public service agreements. This is appropriate given the size of the Irish public service and in the interests of maintaining control of the public finances. There are no plans to change these arrangements.