Cecilia Keaveney
Question:230 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding correspondence received (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32938/04]
View answerThursday, 9 December 2004
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Written answers
Service in the Reserve Defence Force second line, that is, FCA or An Slua Muirí, is given on an entirely voluntary basis. Such service is therefore fundamentally different in nature from full-time employment in the Permanent Defence Force. Permanent Defence Force service is the principal source of employment and income for members of the PDF. Members of the Permanent Defence Force, like other employees in the public sector, are generally covered for superannuation benefits, by way of occupational pension, lump sum or a combination of the two.
The concept of pensionability which applies to employment in the Permanent Defence Force would be quite inappropriate regarding the nature of the service of the Reserve Defence Force. Service in the Reserve Defence Force is not reckonable for superannuation purposes under the Defence Forces pensions schemes. In the circumstances, the payment of an end of service "gratuity" to members of the Reserve Defence Force is not possible.