asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware of the position which has arisen concerning certain officers commissioned in December, 1962 who prior to appointment to commissioned rank had service as senior NCOs and who now find that their salaries and emoluments are lower than those of NCOs; and if he will arrange that increases appropriate to the ranks of the officers concerned will be granted forthwith.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Remuneration of Army Officers.
51.
I am aware that the amount of the present pay and allowances of the officers referred to by the Deputy is less than that of certain senior non-commissioned officers. The officers in question are, however, at the minimum of the scale for their rank and the maximum of that scale is higher than the maximum rate payable to any non-commissioned officer. Moreover the officers will be eligible in the normal course for promotion to the next higher rank which carries a still higher scale of pay.
With regard to the second part of the Deputy's question the position is that these officers are already in receipt of the rate of pay appropriate to their rank and service in that rank and this rate includes increases in line with all recent increases granted to officers of the Permanent Defence Force.
Does the Minister not consider this an unsatisfactory arrangement, an arrangement under which officers are in receipt of lower pay than NCOs? These officers, when commissioned, were in fact given the impression that their pay would be increased. Further, is the Minister aware that, while it is true that some of them may in time qualify for promotion, others, because of their age, unless they are promoted in the near future, will never be promoted and consequently will never benefit from the increase?
The position is a purely transitory one and when the officers get their next increment in April 1966, they will be financially better off than they would be in their former NCO rank.
Is there any chance of making the transition period shorter?
They have got other concessions. They were promoted in an acting capacity eight months before they should have been and, in the long term, they will have other advantages, as well as a longer time to serve.
They filled a deficiency in the Army which the Minister wanted to fill.