asked the Minister for Defence the pay per week for an Army private who is (a) single and (b) married on entry to the Army; and the pay for an Army private who is (a) single and (b) married with five years service in the Army.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Pay.
8.
(Limerick West): The current weekly rates of pay, including military service allowance, of privates both single and married are as follows:
|
£ |
|
|
Private Grade 1 — recruit |
133.14 |
|
Private 2 Star — after 16 weeks' basic training |
154.21 |
|
Private 3 Star — usually after six months' service and with less than three years' service |
160.57 |
|
Private 3 Star — with three or more years' service and less than six years' service |
175.14 |
Is the Minister aware that there are soldiers who work a 70 hour week and take home £26 per week less than the average industrial wage? Is he happy with that type of pay policy for the Army? The soldier with 70 or 72 hours has to put up with £26 less than the average industrial earner on a 40-hour week. Is the Minister aware of where that is likely to lead us?
(Limerick West): The Deputy's figure of £26 is not correct. The average pay of NCOs and privates is £189.6 per week and the average pay of NCOs and privates, if account is taken of Border duty and security duty allowances, is £198.68 per week, which is about £1 short of the industrial average wage.
Averages are very dangerous.
(Limerick West): The Deputy raised the question of the average.
I am talking about soldiers who work 70 hours a week. Is the Minister trying to tell this House that there would be only £1 of a differece between the way such a soldier would be paid and overtime plus basic rate for the industrial wage earner? The Minister must not be living in the real world.
(Limerick West): It is the Deputy who is not living in the real world. For his information—I like to give him information — the average industrial wage including overtime and productivity payments is £199.41 per week. I am very conscious indeed of the high incidence of duties of privates and NCOs. That is why I am now recruiting and why I recruited 700 from 1 November last year. Furthermore, we are looking at the promotional structure in the other ranks and my intention is in the very near future to reduce substantially the high incidence of duties which is causing the problems as outlined by the Deputy.
May I take it that as far as promotions are concerned the embargo has been removed?
(Limerick West): The Deputy is putting words into my mouth; I did not say that.
What did the Minister say about promotions?
The question before us relates to pay.
In the course of his response the Minister referred to the inclusion, as a consideration of income, of money earned by soldiers on Border duty. He told us that the difference between what one would earn on or off Border duty was £9. I raised this issue in the course of the debate on the Estimate for the Department and I should like the Minister to respond to the reports that Border duty can pay as little as £9 for a 24-hour shift. The reports in newspapers suggest that the amount is less but I would like the Minister to give the House some indication of the scale of pay of soldiers engaged on Border duty. The Minister has told us that feature would be taken into consideration in the pay levels of Army recruits.
(Limerick West): I do not have that information but I will forward it to the Deputy at a later date.
I should like to ask the Minister if there are any pay differentials between married and single personnel in the Army?
(Limerick West): No.