Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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212. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Naval Service loyalty bonus also applies to Naval Service reservists that meet the requirement criteria. [37743/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Naval Service Sea-going Service Commitment Scheme recently introduced, is targeted at retaining and incentivising personnel of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) who have accrued an appropriate level of service and experience. It is one of a number of measures aimed at addressing retention issues with Naval service PDF personnel. The Scheme is not open to members of the Naval Service Reserve.

The Scheme is not intended to encompass all sea-going personnel, solely those with the requisite experience levels. In this context, in order to be eligible for the Scheme, personnel must have 3 years’ service in the rank of Able rating or above, or Ensign and above, and to be serving in a sea-going appointment. 

All applicants at the time of application must be commencing/undertaking sea-going duties and must give an undertaking to serve for an aggregate of 24 months at sea andundertake a minimum number of patrol days (240) during the sea-going periods, over a maximum 48 month reference period. Individuals are required to undertake a minimum of 60 patrol days in each 6 month sea-going period to qualify for staged payments.