Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Defence Forces have almost 500 personnel serving between the three UN missions in the region – United Nations Interim Force Lebanon, UNIFIL (319), United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF (136) and United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation UNTSO (13).

The safety and security of Ireland’s Defence Forces’ personnel is of paramount concern to the Government. I am in ongoing contact with the Chief of Staff and the Department of Defence and being kept apprised daily of all developments in areas where our Defence Forces’ personnel are deployed.

Defence Forces' personnel are well trained prior to deployment to mitigate against risks and scenarios that may arise in deployments overseas, including the circumstances in which they find themselves currently. All Defence Forces’ personnel are maintaining a high level of vigilance and continue to monitor the developing situation in their respective mission areas. They are complying with UN security precautions, including taking shelter in protected positions (Groundhog), as appropriate.

I am advised by military management that arrangements are in place to ensure that the families of Defence Forces personnel are kept informed of developments. To this end, relevant updates are passed through Unit liaison officers at home with a view to keeping families and loved ones informed. Family members can also contact their liaison officers if they have any specific queries, which will be addressed subject to operational security considerations.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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184. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason for the delay in the provision of the Defence Forces pensions and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47478/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The target for payment of pension is normally the next available payroll conditional on receipt of all necessary supporting documentation and resolution of any queries arising therefrom. Military pensions are paid monthly and any amendments to the payroll must adhere to strict payroll monthly closedown deadlines. If these monthly deadlines are not met, the pension cannot commence until the following month. Payment of gratuities would normally be 2 weeks following receipt of all necessary paperwork and resolution of queries.

The process of putting pensions into payment is currently taking 5 to 6 weeks, subsequent to receipt of the required paperwork and resolution of any queries arising therefrom. In all cases where a gratuity is eligible to be paid, and once the required paperwork has been received, every effort is made to ensure that payment is made as quickly as possible but currently this can take 3 to 4 weeks.

The calculation of military service pensions and gratuities is a complex and largely manual process. It involves collation and scrutiny of information received from the Payroll area and from the Defence Forces, as well the required documentation received from the individual retirees, and the resolution of any queries which may arise therefrom.

There have been a significantly higher than normal number of new service pension and gratuity cases coming on stream in recent months. Unfortunately this coincided with a period of unavoidably high staff turnover.

Staff have been redeployed from another section and have been trained up in this complex area of work and will stay in place until the present high number of cases on hand returns to normal levels.

The Department is very mindful of the need to issue pension and gratuity payments in a timely manner and I can assure you that every effort is made to expedite payments once all required paperwork is received. The measures put in place are addressing the situation.