Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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162. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the cost of increasing technical pay by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30697/20]

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 Technical Pay is included within the Permanent Defence Force Pay allocation of the Defence Vote. Technical Pay is a weekly allowance paid at different rates to certain, qualified enlisted personnel to fill particular appointments in a wide variety of trade, technical and specialist appointments.

In 2019 total expenditure on Technical Pay was €6.17 million. In simple numerical terms, the cost of increasing Technical Pay by 10%, based on the 2019 outturn figure, would be approximately €617,000 per annum.