Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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161. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the cost of increasing military service allowances by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30696/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Public Sector Pay Policy is determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, having regard to Public Service agreements conducted through central negotiations.

The allocation for Military Service Allowance is included within the Permanent Defence Force Pay allocation of the Defence Vote. Military Service Allowance is paid to all ranks from Private up to the level of Colonel.

In 2019 total expenditure on Military Service Allowance was €47.5 million. In simple numerical terms, the cost of increasing Military Service Allowance by 10%, based on the 2019 outturn figure, would be approximately €4.75 million per annum.