John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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79. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if personnel in full-time induction training can now be deployed on military service; and if they will now be paid the military service allowance. [36618/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Members of the PDF, when not deployed overseas, are engaged in a range of activites including operations and training, and are available for service at all times.  Personnel undergoing induction training are not routinely deployed on military service but can be if required. 

The circumstances facing the State with the COVID 19 virus pandemic has placed unprecedented demands on the principal response agencies and the health service in particular. The Defence Forces are providing supports, across a wide range of areas, to the civil authorities as part of the State's response to the COVID 19 virus. 

The Maintenance of Essential Services Allowance (MESA) is paid to members of the Defence Forces who are deployed on occasion to support the Civil Authorities, across a wide range of scenarios. It is paid in addition to basic pay.  

Military Service Allowance is paid to all members of the Permanent Defence Force, up to and including the rank of Colonel, who have completed their training.

This matter is currently the subject of a claim through the Conciliation and Arbitration scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. As discussions in the scheme are confidential to the parties, it would not be appropriate to comment further.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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80. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his progress in supporting the establishment of centres for retired members of the Defence Forces as outlined in the programme for Government. [36735/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Defence formally recognises two veterans’ organisations that represent all former personnel, namely, the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) and Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE), the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel. The Department provides grants to both associations.

ONE currently has 12 Veterans Support Centres (VSCs) nationwide, while IUNVA operates drop-in centres at 8 of its 22 posts around the country. In addition, ONE provides board and lodgings for 49 ex-service personnel in three residential homes in Dublin, Letterkenny and Athlone, while IUNVA accommodates 4 retired personnel in its home on The Curragh.

The Department has assisted ONE in its plans to establish a network of VSCs around the country. ONE plans to establish a total of 15 VSCs.  The VSC aims to prevent homelessness through early intervention and to actively address loneliness. VSCs are available to all veterans to seek support and advice, not just to ONE members.

Departmental Properties have been made available to ONE and IUNVA to house their VSCs and drop-in centres. 9 of ONEs Veteran Support Centres are located in military barracks as are 3 of IUNVA's drop-in centres. Refurbishment work has been undertaken on a number of these properties to facilitate their use by the organisations. 11 of the 15 VSCs which ONE are in the process of establishing will be based in Defence Forces barracks.

As a further means of assisting the recognised Veterans Associations, the Department secured total funding of €300,000 awarded under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan 2020 to assist ONE and IUNVA with specific special projects.

ONE has nominated the provision of a thirteenth VSC in Cobh, Co. Cork as their special project. Work is currently underway refurbishing a former Social Welfare Office premises in Harbour Row, Cobh.

A component of IUNVA’s nominated special project under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan 2020 is to increase the training facilities available to its members at nine of its posts around the country.