Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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100. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the way the amount was calculated for a former member of the Defence Forces (details supplied) to buy their way out of the Defence Forces to subsequently join the Prison Service; if in this case the calculation was correct and takes account of the totality of their service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36541/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will appreciate that under General Data Protection Regulation it is not appropriate for me to detail the specific points of this individual case through the particular mechanism of a parliamentary question.

I can, however, provide a more broad answer to the query and confirm that, in line with established practice on these matters, the calculation of the undertaking for this individual was based on the information supplied by the military authorities. I am also advised that the calculation of the undertaking was carried out in compliance with the relevant terms and conditions of the course that the individual signed up to.

The General Undertaking Form (GUF) contains significant detail as to the financial liability accepted by the individual.

An undertaking is founded on the premise that service is owed back to the organisation that has funded the course. Courses are undertaken at public expense and personnel commit to a specified length of service or, if exiting the Defence Forces before this service is completed, pay a prescribed sum of money. The individual retains financial liability for early termination of the service undertaking (for voluntary retirement/discharge) and calculations are carried out on an individual basis.

In this case, I am further advised that all requests received by my officials, to calculate monies owed, have been duly addressed.

Separately, a discharge by purchase fee may be applied in which a person pays an appropriate sum to discharge in accordance with Defence Force Regulation A10. Monetary sums in relation to discharge by purchase are assessed on a case by case basis depending on years of service and any educational undertaking.

The guidelines associated with determination of the amount payable on discharge are set down in Regulation and are contained within DFR A10.