Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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609. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason Defence Forces pensions are abated at the State pensionable age unlike other public sector pensions. [20861/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I presume the Deputy is referring to the cessation of a portion of the military retirement pension of certain Defence Forces pensioners on qualifying for the social welfare State Pension (Contributory).

Under the Defence Forces occupational pension scheme applicable to Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and Privates enlisting in the Defence Forces before April 2004, 21 years is the minimum service required for an immediate retirement pension and gratuity, regardless of age. Under this ‘fast accrual’ pension scheme, maximum retirement benefits accrue after 31 years.  The 21-year pension, the rate of which varies according to retiring rank and other factors, is payable for the person’s lifetime.

Where qualifying service is more than 21 years, an ‘additional increment’ is payable at a flat rate (generally €9.02 a week currently) for each year of service in excess of 21 years up to a maximum of 31 years’ service.  This gives a maximum additional increment of €90.20 weekly. However, under the ‘pre-April 2004’ pension scheme rules, this additional increment ceases to be payable if and when the pensioner reaches the prescribed age for the State Pension (Contributory), that is, at age 66 to 68 depending on a person’s date of birth.  The question of a person’s entitlement to a State Pension is, of course, a matter for the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

These arrangements are in accordance with the long established principle of integrating occupational pensions with Social Insurance benefits of employees who are in full PRSI class.  This includes NCOs and Privates who are fully insured for the range of social insurance benefits under the Social Welfare Acts, such as the State Pension (Contributory).  

Integration means that a person’s entitlement to social insurance benefits is taken into account when calculating the rate of their occupational pension payable. In an integrated pension scheme, the State Pension or similar contributory Social Welfare benefit is regarded as part of the overall pension package payable to the individual. The integration principle applies right across the public service and, indeed, in many areas of the private sector as well as in other countries.

It might be noted that the method of integration for these ‘pre-April 2004’ military pensioners is more favourable than in other areas of the public service.  In the public service generally, integration begins from the time the occupational pension commences payment, for example from age 60/65 where ‘standard accrual’ pensions apply in pre-2013 public service schemes.  

NCOs or Privates enlisted before April 2004 who serve 31 years having joined the Defence Forces at age 18/20, can qualify for maximum retirement benefits (pension and lump sum) payable immediately from age 49/51, while those retiring with between 22 and 30 years’ service will also have qualified at a younger age for immediate retirement benefits based on their lower service.  However, for all of them, the integration process only begins when the State Pension becomes payable, for example, at age 66. Furthermore, the maximum personal rate of State Pension payable (€248.30 a week currently if under age 80) is considerably more than any reduction that could happen under the Defence Forces pension schemes by virtue of the loss of the additional increment on qualification for the State Pension.  This is the scenario for any former member who retires with between 22 and 31 years’ service under the ‘pre-April 2004’ pension scheme.

On foot of the operation of these arrangements, such retired members are therefore in receipt of their full pension entitlements from my Department in accordance with the relevant pension scheme rules.

The foregoing atypical integration arrangements do not apply to NCOs and Privates enlisting on or after 1 April 2004, and whose occupational pensions are subject to standard integration with social insurance benefits along with other public service employees insured for full PRSI.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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610. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of active duty Defence Forces personnel that have died by suicide in the past 15 years; the rank of each; the barracks in which they were posted in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20913/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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All sudden deaths that occur in the Defence Forces are reported to the relevant Coroner's Office. It is a matter for the Coroner to determine the cause of death and this is not recorded by the Defence Forces.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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611. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of active duty Defence Forces personnel on medical leave due to mental illness and or stress; the barracks to which they were posted in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20914/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the military authorities that the Defence Forces are not in a position to provide the information requested as the data is not specifically captured by the medical record system and would require a search through the medical records of each individual member. In addition it would give rise to issues of medical confidentiality and data protection.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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612. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of personnel by rank in the Army; the number for the past three years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20915/20]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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613. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of personnel by rank in the Naval Service; the number for the past three years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20916/20]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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614. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of personnel by rank in the Air Corps; the number for the past three years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20917/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 612 to 614, inclusive, together.

The attached document contains the information in tabular form, as requested by the Deputy.

The Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining, the agreed strength of the PDF at 9,500 personnel.  However, the capacity of the Defence Forces to induct and train recruits in 2020 was severely impacted by the COVID-19 situation but those aspects of the induction process that could be conducted remotely continued throughout the year and inductions/training have been resumed taking public health guidelines into account. 

The report of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) of 2019 contains a range of recommendations aimed at improving work-force planning, recruitment and conditions of service for members of the Defence Forces. A High Level Plan to give effect to the recommendations of the PSPC is being implemented.

It should be noted that as the High Level Implementation Plan contains short, medium and long term measures, the full impact of these measures will take time to determine. There are also a range of external variables which impact on recruitment and retention and which can change and these will be carefully monitored to assess their effect as they arise.

The Programme for Government contains a range of commitments aimed at stabilising and restoring the strength of the Defence Forces. An independent Commission will be established to undertake a comprehensive review of the defence requirements of the State. This review will include, inter alia, consideration of pay, allowances, recruitment retention and career progression of members of the Defence Forces. It is also intended that on completion of this review, a permanent pay review body for the Defence Forces will be established.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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615. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of personnel by rank in the Reserve Defence Forces; the number for the past three years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20918/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve (FLR), the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR). 

The most up to date figures available for the effective strength of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR), as of 30 June 2020, are set out below:

The figures for the First Line Reserve for the same years are as follows:

As at 30-Jun-20

31-12-19

31-12-18

31-12-17

While a recruitment campaign for the AR and NSR was opened in March 2020 and 44 new members have been inducted thus far in 2020, the restrictions imposed in the interests of public health as a result of the Covid 19 Pandemic have had a significant impact on many Defence Forces activities, particularly those involving collective training. As such, it has been difficult to conduct RDF inductions.

The Government remains committed to on-going recruitment in the AR and NSR. I am advised that, while there are no specific dates as of yet, it is anticipated that another recruitment campaign for the AR and NSR will be opened in autumn 2020.