Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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145. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the degree to which the levels of pay and conditions in the Defence Forces as identified previously are in the course of resolution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4895/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Similar to other sectors in the public service, the pay of Permanent Defence Force personnel was reduced as one of the measures to assist in stabilising national finances during the financial crisis.

Pay is being restored to members of the Defence Forces and other public servants in accordance with public sector pay agreements. A 2% increase on annualised salaries was implemented from 1 October 2020. The pay scales of all public servants (including members of the Defence Forces), earning under €70,000 per annum have been restored to the levels in place prior to the introduction of the Financial Emergency in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation. The restoration of the 5% cut in allowances imposed under FEMPI was also restored from 1 October 2020.

In addition to the general round of pay increases awarded to public servants, members of the Permanent Defence Force have also benefitted from the implementation of a 10% increase in Military Service allowance and the restoration of specific Defence Forces allowances to rates that pertained prior to July 2013, as recommended by the Public Service Pay Commission. A Service Commitment Scheme for flying officers was also restored.

A sea going naval personnel tax credit of €1,270 was applied in the 2020 tax year for members of the Naval Service who served 80 days or more at sea on board a naval vessel in 2019. This tax credit has been extended for a further year and is increased to €1,500 for the 2021 tax year.

A new sea-going service commitment scheme which is aimed at retaining highly trained and experienced personnel and incentivising sea going duties has come into effect from 1 January 2021.

Negotiations on a new public service pay agreement were facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) towards the end of 2020. The WRC circulated proposals on a new collective agreement to all parties, including the PDF representative associations, on 11 December 2020 for consideration.

The Government is committed to addressing pay and conditions in the Defence Forces and this is reflected in the Programme for Government. In accordance with the Programme for Government a Commission on the Defence Forces has been established. Upon completion of the Commissions work, a permanent pay review body will be established, reflecting the unique nature of military service in the context of the public service.