Bernard Allen
Question:91 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence the duration of the contract newly commissioned officers in the Army are obliged to sign. [25752/99]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Contracts.
Bernard Allen
Question:92 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence the duration of the contract newly commissioned officers in the Navy are obliged to sign. [25753/99]
Bernard Allen
Question:93 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence the duration of the contract newly commissioned officers in the Air Corps are obliged to sign. [25754/99]
Bernard Allen
Question:94 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence the amount of fee or fine personnel are obliged to pay if they wish to opt out of their contracts with the Army. [25755/99]
Bernard Allen
Question:95 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence the amount of fee or fine personnel are obliged to pay if they wish to opt out of their contracts with the Navy. [25756/99]
Bernard Allen
Question:96 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence the amount of fee or fine personnel are obliged to pay if they wish to opt out of their contracts with the Air Corps. [25757/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 to 96, inclusive, together.
Newly commissioned officers in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are not obliged to sign a contract on commissioning. They may retire or resign their commissions without expense unless they have signed an undertaking to refund the cost of courses completed outside Defence Forces establishments or in respect of pilot training in the case of Air Corps officers. Officers who are assigned to attend third level courses on full pay are required to sign undertakings that they will refund the cost of the course, including their remuneration while a full time student. Undertakings run from the date of completion of a course and officers who retire or resign with the permission of the Minister before the expiration of an undertaking are required to make the appropriate refunds to the Department in respect of the cost to the State of their participation in such educational courses or training.
The scales of payment for the "discharge by purchase" of non-commissioned officers and privates are as prescribed in Defence Forces Regulations A10 which are on view in the Library of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Broadly similar criteria apply to non-commissioned officers and privates, as to officers, in relation to undertakings in respect of educational and training courses.