Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Jan 1998

Vol. 486 No. 1

Written Answers. - Army Chaplains' Remuneration.

Jack Wall

Question:

361 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the rationale for class A and class C rates of remuneration in relation to clergymen and women engaged full-time or otherwise as chaplains to the Defence Forces; if he will outline the meaning of the term a chaplain in charge; and the amounts expended on other chaplains engaged from time to time in each of the years 1996 and 1997. [1290/98]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith):

Prior to 6 April 1988, members of the Army Chaplaincy Service did not qualify for social insurance benefits. They first became insurable as a result of the enactment of the Social Welfare Act, 1988 and with effect from 6 April 1988, members were covered at the Class C rate. This did not result in any changes in their superannuation benefits under the Defence Forces schemes. The Minister for Finance announced in his 1994 Budget Statement that modified PRSI would no longer apply to new public sector employees recruited on or after 6 April 1995 and, furthermore, the occupational schemes of such employees would be revised in accordance with the arrangements applicable to existing Class A public sector employees to take account of their entitlement to the full range of social insurance benefits.

Under the revised arrangements, members of the Army Chaplaincy Service appointed on or after 6 April 1995 are liable to pay contributions from salary, approximately 5 per cent, towards their personal superannuation benefits and as a consequence adjustment was made to the pay rates applicable to such members, involving an increase in pay of 1/19th of the existing rates of pay. Members of the Army Chaplaincy Service appointed prior to 6 April 1995 make no contribution towards their personal superanuation benefits. The position therefore is that there are two sets of pay scales for members of the Army Chaplaincy Service, i.e. rates for those recruited prior to 6 April 1995 and who were liable to pay PRSI at Class C and for those recruited on or after 6 April 1995 and who are liable to pay PRSI at Class A.

I would add, however, that a member of the Army Chaplaincy Service has raised the question of the insurability status of his employment with the Department of Defence with the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. That Department examined the case and, in a decision dated 6 October 1997, adjudged that the employment is insurable at Class A rate since 6-4-1988. The implications of this decision are presently being examined.

There are three grades of appointment within the Army Chaplaincy Service, that of Head Chaplain, Chaplain in Charge and Assistant Chaplain. A Chaplain in Charge may be appointed as necessary in a military barracks, camp or post. Normally not more than one Chaplain in Charge is appointed to minister to each 1,000 officers, non-commissioned officers and privates. Payments to part-time clergymen amounted to £41,300 in 1996 and £41,513 in 1997.