Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 January 2022
109. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the progress made in relation to the High-Level Implementation Plan for Strengthening our Defence Forces; when the completed project reports will be shared with Defence Forces representative associations in line with the request from the chairperson of the Defence Forces Conciliation Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3834/22]
View answerThe Report of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) on Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces was published on the 4th of July 2019. The Report was accepted in full by the Government at that time and an extensive High Level Plan titled "Strengthening our Defence Forces” was also agreed and published on the same date. The high level plan comprised 15 individual projects most of which have now been completed or at an advanced stage.
In the course of the work on the projects, reports and papers were produced that relate to the identification, examination and consideration of options that inform management deliberations, but do not necessarily in themselves represent final proposals or discussion documents for exchange with the Representative Associations. On that basis, it is not appropriate to provide the Representative associations with access to the contents of reports which are part of ongoing management deliberative processes. My Department will of course, continue to engage with the Representative Associations on all matters that fall within the scope of representation, once Official side proposals are finalised.
By way of an update on the status pf the projects, four of them, relating to pay provided immediate benefits to PDF members totalling some €10m, as well as initiatives that will lead to further improvements. Also completed are projects on enhanced professional military education, bespoke leadership training, development of a mental health and wellbeing strategy, non-pay retention measures, consideration of the provision of additional specialist posts in certain areas, a review of technical pay groups and a review of recruitment processes. The Workforce Planning Project is being progressed through the joint civil/military Strategic Human Resources Group
The Review of Pay Structures project was intended to examine pay structures in the Permanent Defence Force and to fall under the public service pay agreement “Building Momentum”. However, in the intervening period, one of the tasks set for the Commission on the Defence Forces was also to examine pay structures in the Permanent Defence Force. The recommendations of another project dealing with incentivised long service arrangements for certain Officer and NCO ranks, fell to be considered in the context of the sectoral bargaining element of “Building Momentum”.
The project examining Barriers to Extended Participation in the PDF was split into two phases. Phase 1 focussed on reviewing mandatory retirement ages for Officers. A review has been completed by civil and military staff and their Report contains a number of recommendations for extension in service limits. The recommendations require consideration from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to the implications on costs and pensions.
Phase 2 examined the contracts of service and mandatory retirement ages for enlisted personnel. In December 2021, agreement was secured with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform which will allow for an extension in service limits for all Privates and Corporals to remain in service up to 50 years of age, subject to them meeting certain criteria including medical and fitness standards.
Arrangements were also secured which will allow for Sergeants to continue to serve beyond 50 years of age the details of which will be finalised following further discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Other recommendations in this project will be considered in the forum of an Inter-Departmental Working Group, which the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has established to consider mandatory retirement ages for all public service groups with fast accrual pension arrangements.
