asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware of the dissatisfaction among soldiers of the Irish Army over pay and conditions at home and abroad; and if it is his intention to improve conditions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Pay and Conditions.
59.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The pay and allowances of the Permanent Defence Force have been kept in line with wage and salary movements in the public service generally.
As regards personnel serving overseas, I would refer the Deputy to the reply I gave in the House on the 6th instant on the subject of overseas allowances.
Pay and conditions are kept under constant review.
Is the Minister aware that soldiers serving do not receive any credit by way of increments as do older soldiers in other armies? Is it the Minister's intention to do anything about that in the future?
If the Deputy gives me notice of that question, I shall answer it.
I asked about the dissatisfaction. That has something to do with it. I asked if it is the Minister's intention to improve conditions.
I have no knowledge of alleged dissatisfaction.
60.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will (a) grant increments, (b) arrange for terminal grants, (c) arrange for out of quarters supplement grants, (d) increase ration allowance and (e) introduce a pension for soldiers in the Irish Army.
Increments and pensions have been payable to soldiers for very many years. A soldier whose length of service is not sufficient to qualify for a pension is eligible for a service gratuity. Ration allowance is based on the actual cost to the State of the daily ration and accordingly I do not propose to increase it or to introduce a scheme for the provision of out of quarters supplement grants.
Is the Minister aware that in the Irish Army they have no terminal grants, no out of quarters supplement grants, that they need a better ration allowance and that they need and are looking for a pension scheme based on the British Army pension scheme? Is the Minister further aware that a single sergeant after 31 years' service, if he retires from the British Army, will get £1,612 of a terminal grant and £10 6s 8d a week pension? Here, if he retires, he gets no terminal grant and £4 9s 0d per week pension. Does the Minister intend to do anything to improve the conditions of serving members of the Irish Army?
The pensions members of the Irish Army get are approved here in this House.
Yes, but they are very low.
Question No. 61.
They are approved in this House. It is on the authority of this House that pensions are payable to our soldiers.
Surely the Minister realises that, if he brings a proposition to this House, nobody here is going to turn it down? Surely he realises that, if he considers that the pensions are good, the men and young boys in the country must not when they will not and are not joining the Irish Army and when they are dissatisfied with present conditions.
Is the Minister aware that when the cost of living was increasing here during last year the CRA being paid to living out soldiers was reduced by a penny a day; that this is not a good way to fix the rate of CRA and would the Minister consider having it tied to what the food actually costs a soldier in the outside world rather than in the barracks?
Of course, we could stabilise the CRA, that is the ration allowance. We could stabilise that but in fact it is calculated on the cost of rations in the six months prior to the six months in which it is payable. In the early part of last year it was reduced by a penny. It was not the first time it was reduced by a penny. In the second half of last year it was raised by 5d. because of the fact that the cost of rations had gone up by that amount in the first six months of last year. I have not got any great complaint in connection with this matter. It seems to me a fair method of assessing the ration allowance and I do not know whether any other method would be as satisfactory to the soldier.
Surely the Minister is aware that there is no way in which a soldier can complain without breaking the rules unless he gets some member of his family to do it? Does the Minister not agree that the amount of continuous ration allowance which is paid per day would not buy a meal for a child, not to talk of a day's food for a soldier?
That is not the point that is involved in the question at all.
It is, of course.
It is not. It is an allowance in lieu of ration. It is not the price of a ration; it is an allowance in lieu of ration.
What does he get to buy rations with?
The principle involved is that soldiers were on the ration at all times until the allowance in lieu was introduced.
It is a long time ago.
I know it is.
Question No. 61.
"'Tis but in vain for soldiers to complain." Who said that?
Seán Dunne.