Fergus O'Dowd
Question:19. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the latest engagement he has had with the Defences Forces in terms of pay improvements. [13921/23]
View answerThursday, 23 March 2023
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Written answers
I last met both Permanent Defence Forces Representative Associations, RACO and PDFORRA, on 13th February this year. At this meeting, we had discussions on a number of key issues, including on pay and conditions matters for Defence Forces personnel.
There have been a number of key recent improvements in pay for Defence Forces personnel, which I will take this opportunity to outline to the House.
With its approval of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces in 2022, the Government committed to a range of measures which have (and will) positively impact pay and conditions for personnel. My Department has already implemented two of the pay-related recommendations of the Report; namely,
- All personnel of Private 3 Star/Able Seaman rank are paid the full rate of Military Service Allowance (MSA) applicable to the rank, and
- The requirement for that cohort to ‘mark time’ for the first three years at the rank has been removed.
These measures resulted in the pay rates (including MSA) for Private 3 Star and Able Seamen, in their first three years of service, starting at €37,147 in Year 1, rising to €38,544 in Year 2, and €39,832 in Year 3.
For newly recruited Officers, starting Pay, including MSA, amounts to:
- €46,406 for a graduate cadet on commissioning, and
- €41,123 for a school leaver cadet on commissioning.
As with the enlisted, there is also scope for further income from duty allowances. There are also opportunities for frequent career advancement to higher ranks & to qualify for additional allowances.
These compare very well to starting rates of pay across the public service, I'm sure you will agree.
My Department also delivered the Commission recommendation on temporary associate membership for the Representative Associations with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) for the purpose of participation in public sector pay negotiations in mid-2020. This allowed RACO and PDFORRA, for the first time, to take part in discussions on the extension to the Building Momentum Pay Agreement under the ICTU umbrella.
Aside from these improvements, and specifically in terms of pay, the Defence Forces are paid increases in pay and allowances in line with Public Service pay agreements.
The most recent agreement, the extension to ‘Building Momentum’, provided for increases in pay and allowances of 6.5% to members of the Defence Forces in 2022 and 2023. This includes:
- 3%, backdated to 2nd Feb 2022
- 2 % on 1st March 2023
- 1.5% or €750, whichever is the greater, on 1st October 2023.
Pensionable allowances in the nature of pay also benefit from this.
The 3% increase, back-dated to February 2022, was paid to all serving members of the Defence Forces by 30th November 2022 last. The remaining Building Momentum 1% increase, due on October 2022, was also paid by this date.
I am also pleased to inform the Deputy that the latest increase of 2%, due on 1st March last, has been paid to Enlisted personnel, while Officers will see their increases on 31st March.
Finally, and in addition to general round pay increases arising out of ongoing national pay agreements, members of the Permanent Defence Forces have also benefited from the implementation of increases in Defence Forces duty allowances, as recommended by the Public Service Pay Commission in 2019. It is important also to note that for those Defence Force personnel who have specialist appointments, based on training or qualifications, there is a range of additional allowances available to them. For example, members of the Army Ranger Wing receive an allowance of €225 per week, on top of their salary.