Members of the Permanent Defence Force serve with a number of different missions abroad and different arrangements exist between missions in relation to the allowances payable.
In general, personnel serving with peace-keeping, peace-enforcing or military observer missions overseas receive a daily "overseas" allowance in addition to pay, payable by the Department, in respect of service with such missions. Where personnel serving with peace-keeping, peace-enforcing or observer missions overseas are required to pay for accommodation and meals and bear other associated costs for the duration of the tour of duty, a mission subsistence allowance – per diem allowance – is also payable. In certain other missions where personnel incur all costs associated with service abroad, a cost of living/foreign service allowance, accommodation/ rent allowance, detention allowance, disturbance allowance and children's allowance may be payable.
The current (1.7.1998) rates of the overseas allowance paid by the Department are:–
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL):
Commandant and higher – £37.45; Captain and lower – £34.04.
Sergeant and higher – £29.18; Corporal – £28.20; Private – £27.25.
United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP):
Commandant and higher – £24.41; Captain and lower – £22.20.
Sergeant and higher – £19.03; Corporal – £18.39; Private – £17.76.
Observer Missions:
£12.62; £15.78; £20.43; £44.02 per day, depending on the mission.