Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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424. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the strength of the Permanent Defence Forces as of 1 May 2021 or the latest date for which figures are available; the breakdown of all ranks across the three services; the gender breakdown of same in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24685/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The attached table shows the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) as at 31st March 2021, the latest date for which such information is available, broken down by rank, service and gender.

As at 30th April 2021, 149 personnel have been inducted into the Defence Forces, comprised of:

The Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining the agreed strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel as set out in the White Paper on Defence (2015).

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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425. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the strength of the Reserve Defence Forces as of 1 May 2021 with regard to all three services and all ranks; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24686/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve (FLR), the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR).

End of month strength returns are collated at the mid-month point of the following month. The most up to date figures available therefore for the effective strength of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) are, as of 31 March 2021, and the effective strength at that point is 1,569 which is broken down as follows:

table cont.

The breakdown of female Officers, NCOs and Privates in the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve, is 212 in total as of 31 March 2021, and is as follows:

table cont.

The substantive strength of the First Line Reserve (FLR) as of 31 March 2021 is as follows:

*The gender breakdown of the FLR is not available

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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426. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on the involvement of the Permanent Defence Forces in the Covid-19 vaccination programme; the number of personnel involved; the locations in which they provided support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24687/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Whilst the Defence Forces are not a primary response agency for non-security related emergencies, as defined in the Framework for Major Emergency Management, they provide the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or emergency situation in its Aid to Civil Authority (ATCA) role. In this regard, the full spectrum of Defence Forces personnel and equipment, commensurate with operational requirements, is made available for deployments, within current means and capabilities, as the need arises.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Joint Task Force was established to coordinate the Defence Forces contribution to the whole-of-Government COVID-19 response. It has the authority to draw together, in a joint manner, the contribution of all of the elements of the Defence Forces – Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, Reserve, etc. This was provided for in a Defence Forces Regulation signed by and under the authority of the Minister for Defence.

The Defence Forces Joint Task Force is based in McKee Barracks and its priority from the beginning has been to provide support to the HSE, while retaining, at all times, a contingent capacity to provide Aid to the Civil Power support.

The Defence Forces has provided a wide range of supports to the HSE, as coordinated by the Joint Task Force as part of the national response to Covid 19. As the vaccine programme is rolled out the main effort and focus of Defence Forces assistance to the HSE has shifted from test and trace supports to the national vaccination programme and to suppporting the mandatory hotel quarantine system.

In terms of the national vaccination programme, the Defence Forces are represented on the High Level Task Force for Covid-19 Vaccination, providing planning advice and staffing support to the Vaccine Supply Chain and Logistics work stream.

At the present time, the Defence Forces deploy approx 75 personnel on a daily basis to support the HSE National Vaccination Programme. This support includes the provision of vaccinators through Defence Forces medical staff (Doctors, Advanced Paramedics, Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians). This also includes Defence Forces personnel providing assistance across 9 vaccination sites in the area of site management, administrative and logistical support.

In addition through the Joint Task Force, the Defence Forces continues to support the rollout of the vaccination programme through:

- Secure storage supports

- Transportation of vaccinators in adverse weather conditions

- Transportation of vaccines, consumables and vaccinators by air at the request of the National Ambulance Service.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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427. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if measures are being taken to bridge the gap of ten years between forced early retirement on age grounds in the Defence Forces and access to the State pension. [24688/21]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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428. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to extend the supplementary pension provision to post-2013 new entrants to give them the option of a lengthy career in the Defence Forces. [24689/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 427 and 428 together.

I take it that the Deputy is referring to the absence of the concept of “supplementary pensions” from the provisions of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.

The occupational pension scheme terms of post-1 January 2013 new entrants to the public service, including the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), are governed by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. All first-time new entrants to pensionable public service employment on or after that date are members of the Single Scheme.

The Single Scheme is a key structural fiscal reform introduced to help significantly reduce the cost of public service pensions in the long term, while at the same time continuing to provide valuable pension benefits for employees. In the general context of that policy objective, the terms and rules of the Single Scheme – which are fundamentally different to previous superannuation public service arrangements – make no provision for the concept or award of supplementary pensions for any new entrants joining any public service group from 1 January 2013 onwards.

Notwithstanding the distinguishing features of the Single Scheme, members of the PDF in that Scheme retain the minimum pension age of 50 to reflect operational needs, as already applies to new entrant military personnel recruited since April 2004. Importantly, the Single Scheme also retains ‘fast accrual’ pension terms for groups such as the Defence Forces.

Under the 2012 Act, overall statutory responsibility for the Single Scheme pension terms and rules rests with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. In that regard, the absence from the Single Scheme of provision for the concept of supplementary pensions for any new entrants joining any public service group – including the PDF – on or after 1st January 2013, has previously been confirmed by the Official Side, which includes the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to the Defence Forces Representative Associations.

Access to the State Pension is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Social Protection. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government have established a Commission on Pensions under a Programme for Government commitment. The Commission’s remit is to examine sustainability and eligibility issues with the State Pension and the Social Insurance Fund and also consider the issue of retirement ages in employment contracts and consider how the pension system can further accommodate carers.

In accordance with its terms of reference, the Commission will submit a report on its work, findings, options and recommendations to the Minister for Social Protection by 30 June 2021.

I am also advised that the Public Service Pay Commission considered certain aspects of military superannuation provisions, which were submitted as an influencing factor on military recruitment and/or retention outcomes. The Commission’s report on recruitment and retention in the Permanent Defence Force which was accepted in full by Government in July 2019 considered the concerns expressed by the military Representative Associations in relation to various aspects of pension scheme provisions for the Defence Forces. The Commission made no recommendations advocating any improvements to the pension scheme terms of the PDF.

However, the PSPC report did recommend a range of measures relating to pay and non-pay aspects that would result in immediate and future benefits for members of the PDF. The High Level Plan- "Strengthening Our Defence Forces" provides for actions or projects to be undertaken to deliver on the PSCP recommendations. A project to consider options to tackle barriers to extended participation in the PDF (including the possibility of extending retirement ages for members of the PDF) is underway. This project is divided into two phases. The first phase, focusing on reviewing mandatory retirement ages for officers and the second phase to review contracts of service for enlisted personnel. As this review is currently underway, it would be inappropriate to pre-empt any recommendations that may arise regarding mandatory retirement ages in the PDF.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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429. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the implementation of the Strengthening our Defence Forces high-level implementation plan. [24690/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s high level plan “Strengthening Our Defence Forces – Phase 1” sets out a range of actions to be undertaken in the short, medium and longer term. The plan is complemented by a range of other HR actions which were already underway.

The immediate pay measures set out in the plan i.e. an increase in Military Service Allowance, the reversal of 10% cuts to allowances and the restoration of weekend premium rates for overtime were implemented immediately upon their acceptance by the PDF Representative Associations. A service commitment scheme for pilots was also re-introduced, with very positive uptake. The remaining projects in the plan contain both pay and non-pay measures.

The table below summarises the current status for each of the 15 projects included in the plan:

In tandem with the the implementation of the high level plan, the Commission on the Defence Forces is also conducting a comprehensive review of the pay structures within the Defence Forces.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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430. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the implementation of the EU working time directive in relation to the Defence Forces. [24691/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The EU Working Time Directive has been transposed into national legislation by way of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997. The Defence Forces are currently excluded from the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. The Government, however, has committed to amending this Act and bringing both the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochana within the scope of its provisions, where appropriate.

Responsibility for preparing an appropriate legislative framework in this regard transferred to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) in October 2020. My Department is working closely with DETE to progress the regulatory amendment required to remove the blanket exclusion and bring the Defence Forces within the parameters of the Act whilst having regard to the unique nature of some of their activities which may require exemption or derogation from the provisions of the Act.

The Working Time Directive recognises the unique nature of certain military activities and allows for derogations and exemptions of such activities. A significant amount of work has been undertaken by civil and military management in determining the military activities that fall within the scope of the Directive. I have been advised that a high percentage of the normal everyday work of the Defence Forces is already in compliance with the Working Time Directive and that a range of activities also qualify for exemption. Deliberations on these matters are continuing between civilian and military management and will feed into amendments to the legislative framework.

A subcommittee of the Defence Conciliation and Arbitration Council (comprising of the Representative Associations, military and civil management) has been established to discuss matters relating to implementation of the Working Time Directive, where appropriate. Arising from those discussions, amended practices regarding compensatory rest have been introduced. This builds upon existing work practices relating to compensatory rest which comply with the Directive. Further discussions with the Defence Forces Representative Associations will be undertaken, through this forum, as the current work evolves.

My Department and the Defence Forces remain fully committed to ensuring that the provisions of the Working Directive are applied throughout the Defence Forces and I can assure the Deputy that the health and safety of personnel in the Defence Forces remains a priority for myself and the Chief of Staff.