Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 April 2021
69. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Defence if the Air Corps pilot service commitment scheme will be retained in the long-term following its success and learnings gained from previous schemes; if he will extend this scheme further to the air crew and technical personnel to ensure that these vital services continue to operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21072/21]
View answerThe Public Service Pay Commission report on recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces recommended the reintroduction of an Air Corps Flying Officers service commitment scheme. Accordingly, a service commitment scheme was re-introduced in 2019.
Under the terms of the Scheme applicants must commit to a three, five or eight year employment term. Payments for service commitments are made through staged annual payments. A terminal bonus payment is made to those Air Corps Flying Officers who commit to a full period of five years or eight years and in certain other limited circumstances.
I am pleased to say that a total of 15 Air Corps Flying Officers successfully applied for the Service Commitment Scheme in 2019. The 2020 Scheme which was launched in July 2020 attracted a further 10 applicants, bringing the total number of Officers availing of the Air Corps Flying Officers - Service Commitment Scheme to 25. There will be a further iteration of the Scheme in 2021.
There are no plans to extend the scheme beyond 2021 and there are no plans to extend the scheme to other personnel in the Air Corps.
I am pleased to say that a recuitment campaign for Aircraft Apprentice Technicians was recently launched and further recruitment intiatives are also under consideration.
