Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

48. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the way in which he proposes to improve the conditions of service for Defence Forces medical officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58279/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The recruitment and retention of trained medical personnel, as with other specialist areas within the Defence Forces, is a matter of priority.

The Deputy will be aware that a range of actions have already been taken to address the pay and conditions of Defence Forces personnel. in line with other public servants, the Defence Forces Medical Officers received a number of increases provided by the current public sector pay agreement, Building Momentum, during 2022. These included a 1% increase in annualised basic salaries in February 2022, and a general round increase in annualised basic salaries for all public servants, as well as an increase of 1% in fixed periodic pensionable allowances and allowances in the nature of pay, in October 2022. The recently agreed extension to this Building Momentum agreement provides for further increases in pay and allowances to all public servants, including members of the Defence Forces.

In addition to general round pay increases arising out of ongoing national pay agreements, members of the Permanent Defence Force have also benefitted from the implementation of increases in Defence Forces allowances, as recommended by the Public Service Pay Commission in 2019. It is also important to note that for those Defence Force personnel who have specialist appointments, there are a range additional allowances available to them.

The recent Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces makes a range of recommendations and proposes significant changes, including the level of Defence provision in Ireland and recommendations in relation to capacity components required to achieve that provision. This includes, inter alia, consideration of morale, recruitment and retention matters. The recommendations of the Commission have been agreed by Government and a High Level Action Plan, published in July sets out the way forward including a range of early actions. The approach taken in implementing each of the Commission’s recommendations, including those relating to the conditions of Defence Forces personnel, is currently under consideration in light of the level of ambition agreed by Government.