Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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133. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount paid to outside agency technicians for aircraft maintenance by the Air Corps in 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55097/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the military authorities that the Air Corps utilises their own technicians for the maintenance of its aircraft for both daily maintenance inputs and more in-depth aircraft inspections.

No money has been paid to outside agency technicians for aircraft maintenance by the Air Corps in 2020 and to date in 2021.

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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134. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the average hourly rate being paid to enlisted maintenance technicians in the Air Corps; the number of vacant positions for maintenance technicians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55098/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A number of factors  apply in order to calculate the hourly rate paid to enlisted maintenance technicians. Qualified maintenance technicians are paid dependent on their current point of the scale, rate of Military Service Allowance for their rank and if they are in receipt of Technician Pay for their appointment. The salary can range from the first point of the Private 3 Star payscale, up to the top of the scale at BQMS rank and whether they joined pre or post 1994.

Payscales can be found at the following url: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/e8132-routinely-published-information/

Negotiations on a new public service agreement were held in late 2020 with public service trade unions and representative associations. A new agreement ‘Building Momentum – A New Public Service Agreement 2021 – 2022’ has subsequently been ratified by the overwhelming majority of public sector unions. Following a ballot of their members the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations, namely RACO and PDFORRA, formally notified the Workplace Relations Commission of their intention to comply with this agreement. 

In return for ongoing reform and productivity measures the agreement provides for further increases in pay to all public servants, including members of the Defence Forces. This agreement includes the following increases:

- A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, came into effect on 1^st October 2021.

- The equivalent of a 1% increase in annualised basic salaries to be used as a Sectoral Bargaining Fund, in accordance with Chapter 2 of the Agreement, on 1^st February 2022.

- A general round increase in annualised basic salaries for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater on, 1^stOctober 2022.

The Government remains fully committed to addressing pay and conditions in the Defence Forces.The Programme for Government provided for the establishment of a Commission on the Defence Forces, which was established on the 15^thDecember 2020.  On completion of the Commission's work, I will consult with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the establishment of a permanent pay review body for the Defence Forces.

Referring specifically to the hourly rate of pay for enlisted maintenance technician's, there is no definitive figure available here. This is due to the fact that for maintenance technicians, in the Air Corps, a rate of pay depends on factors such as rank and associated pay scales, as well as related technical pay rates. In the case of maintenance technicians Tech Pay 4, 5 or 6 can be applied, but again it is not linked to an hourly rate, as asked.

The number of vacant positions for maintenance technicians in the Air Corps is currently being complied and will be provided to the Deputy as soon as it is available.