Vol. 509 No. 6
184 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Defence the allowances paid to military personnel serving with the OSCE in Kosovo; the way in which these allowances compare with the payments made by other EU Governments; and the proposals, if any, he has for an increase in this regard. [21849/99]
Irish military personnel serving with the OSCE in Kosovo receive a subsistence allowance of $95 per day from the OSCE in order to cover the cost of accommodation and food which are not provided for them by the mission.
In addition, Irish military personnel are paid an overseas peace support allowance, at a rate which ranges from £27.66 per day for the rank of private, up to £38.01 per day for the ranks of commandant and upwards.
This overseas peace support allowance is a new rate of overseas allowance which has recently been established and was backdated to take effect from 1 October 1994. This new rate of overseas allowance represents a significant increase on the previous rate of allowance which was payable. Irish military personnel are also in receipt of their normal regimental pay and retain their military service allowance.
