Vol. 533 No. 3
125 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Defence the overtime payment arrangements for Army personnel on duty as part of the foot and mouth disease preventative measure in Border areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8981/01]
126 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Defence if a special allowance will be paid to members of the Defence Forces who have been and are engaged in additional duties, particularly in the Border region, due to the foot and mouth disease scare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8982/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together.
The Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, recently submitted a claim on behalf of members of the Defence Forces who have been engaged in additional duties arising out of the foot and mouth disease scare and this claim is currently being processed through the conciliation and arbitration scheme. By agreement with the association, discussions under the scheme are confidential to the parties involved. Accordingly, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this issue at present, other than to say that I hope for an early resolution.
As a result of the distinctive nature of military duties and military life, overtime is not payable to members of the Defence Forces. However, a range of allowances are payable for the performance of particular duties which involve service significantly in excess of normal duty hours. Permanent Defence Force personnel serving in Border units are in receipt of a border duty allowance of £59.63 per week in the case of officers and £53.74 per week in the case of non-commissioned officers and privates. All personnel who are engaged on border duties arising from the foot and mouth scare will be eligible to be paid border duty allowance in addition to their normal regimental pay and military service allowance.
