Written Answers. - Defence Forces Remuneration.
Jack Wall
Question:
29
Mr. Wall
asked the
Minister for Defence
the criteria used to determine technicians' pay within the Defence Forces; if a member can be required to carry out the duties of a technician without receiving the technicians rate of pay; if so, if he will act to remove this disparity; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24502/01]
Seán Power
Question:
79
Mr. Power
asked the
Minister for Defence
his plans to review all technical pay in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24639/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 79 together.
Entitlement to technician pay and the occupations which attract such pay are prescribed in the Defence Forces regulations.
Technician pay is payable to soldiers who are members of the technician class, who are employed on the duties of their trade or occupation and who are filling vacancies in the establishments of their units for their particular occu pations. The technician class consists of personnel possessing qualifications in specified trades or occupations.
Instances can occasionally arise where an individual is employed on the duties of his or her trade or occupation but is not filling a post in their unit's establishment for that particular occupation and thus is not entitled to receive technician pay. This can occur, for example, where an individual wishes to remain at a particular location where no such establishment post is available. However, as a general rule, the policy is that people should not be employed in duties of their trade or occupation unless they are filling vacancies in the establishments of their units for their particular occupations.
Under the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1990, matters relating to pay and allowances come within the scope of representation of the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, and may be processed through the conciliation and arbitration scheme for the Permanent Defence Force which was established in agreement with the association.
In signing up to the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, PDFORRA agreed to participate in the first ever public service benchmarking process which is reviewing all aspects of the pay of non-commissioned personnel in the Defence Forces by reference to pay and jobs across the economy. This review will, of course, encompass technician pay. The benchmarking process is ongoing and the benchmarking body's report is due by June 2002.
Earlier this year, my Department finalised a package of outstanding issues which included increases in the rates of technician pay for 17 occupations in the Defence Forces. This has benefited some 500 personnel at an approximate cost of £500,000 per annum.
