Defence Forces Personnel

Tuesday, 17 November 2020

Questions (433)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

433. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the number of full-time Defence Forces personnel that have died while in service from 1 January 2000 to date in 2020; the section the person served in at the time of death; the cause of death and year of death in tabular form; and the amount paid in death in service pay for this period. [37004/20]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The information sought by the Deputy could not be collated within the timeframe. I have requested the Military Authorities to provide this information as soon as possible and I will revert to the Deputy as soon as the information is made available to me.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I have been advised by Military Authorities that the total number of full-time Defence Forces personnel that have died while in service from 1 January 2000 to date in 2020 is 241. The following table breaks this total down by year and branch:

Year	Army	Air Corps	Naval Service	Total
2020*	4	1	0	5
2019	5	2	0	7
2018	6	0	0	6
2017	5	1	0	6
2016	14	0	0	14
2015	4	1	1	6
2014	6	0	1	7
2013	9	0	1	10
2012	8	1	1	10
2011	10	1	2	13
2010	10	1	1	12
2009	12	5	1	18
2008	11	0	0	11
2007	15	1	0	16
2006	13	3	0	16
2005	12	0	0	12
2004	10	2	1	13
2003	13	0	0	13
2002	11	0	1	12
2001	13	1	3	17
2000	13	1	3	17

*2020 as at 31 Oct.

As regards the cause of death, definitive reasons are not recorded in every case, and are therefore not provided here.

I refer to your request for details of the amount paid in death in service pay for the period 1 January 2000 to date in 2020. I am taking this to refer to standard gratuities (lump sums) paid under the Defence Forces pensions (superannuation) schemes in cases where a member of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) dies in service.

The amount paid under the Defence Forces pensions (superannuation) schemes in respect of standard death in service gratuities for the period 1 January 2006 to 17 November 2020 was €6,573,699. These lump sum payments apply in all cases of death in service, regardless of the circumstances.

Unfortunately it is not possible to provide information on the lump sum amounts paid prior to 1 January 2006 as a new financial system was implemented with effect from that date and prior to this the data was not held in the requested format and would require a disproportionate amount of administrative effort and resources to compile.

There are a number of other payments that may also be made to the next of kin of members of the PDF who die in service, whether from natural causes or where killed in the course of duty.

- This includes dependants’ pensions (mainly to spouses and children) which may be payable, subject to certain conditions.

- Special lump sum payments may be made in cases where death results from service overseas with a UN force or other relevant mission. These special lump sums are additional to any benefits payable under the Defence Forces pensions code, such as dependants pensions and standard death in service gratuities mentioned above.

- Separately, additional lump sum death benefits may be payable under special voluntary insurance schemes organised by the Defence Forces.

- PDF personnel are also fully insured under the Social Welfare Acts for the range of Social Insurance benefits, including Widows’ / Widowers’ / Surviving Civil Partners contributory pension