Vol. 474 No. 3
281 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the disquiet among Defence Force personnel on Border duty in view of the disparity with gardaí in the amount of subsistence payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2768/97]
The provisions governing the payment of subsistence allowance to Defence Forces personnel are provided for in Defence Force Regulations. Subsistence allowance is only payable where personnel who are performing duties away from their station are not provided with rations. This does not arise frequently, however, as there is a comprehensive catering system in place in Border units to cope with feeding troops in the field. Full hot meals are provided in barracks for those performing the duty before commencement and on completion of duty. Also while on patrol personnel receive flasks of hot tea or coffee and sandwiches.
I would like to add that in addition to basic pay, personnel serving in Border units are in receipt of a Border duty allowance of £50.07 per week in the case of officers and £44.91 per week in the case of non-commissioned officers and privates. A military service allowance is also payable to all members of the Permanent Defence Force up to and including the rank of colonel to compensate personnel for the special conditions associated with military life, such as the unsocial hours of duty, being subject to transfers and a requirement to serve in all conditions. The current rate in the case of officers is £2,091 per annum, and in the case of non-commissioned officers and privates is £40.08 per week, £2,091 p.a., with the exception of privates with less than three years' service who receive £14.43 per week. These allowances are paid, irrespective of the actual hours worked, on a continuous basis, including periods of annual leave, sick leave, etc.
The rates of remuneration of the Permanent Defence Force, including military service allowance and Border duty allowance, were determined by the Gleeson Commission in 1990. The commission expressly stated its conclusion that military duties were clearly in a distinctive category and that it would not be appropriate to fix military pay on the basis of a direct comparison with the pay of gardaí.
Under the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1990, the payment of allowances comes within the scope of representation of the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association and may be processed through the conciliation and arbitration scheme for the Permanent Defence Force which was established in agreement with the association. The question of the payment of an allowance to personnel involved with the BSE-related operations in Border areas has been raised by the association under the terms of the conciliation and arbitration scheme. Under the terms of the scheme, as agreed with the association, discussions on claims which are being processed are confidential. You will appreciate, therefore, that as the matter is under active consideration at present it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.
