The Ministers for Defence and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform, have sanctioned the implementation of the Decision of the Arbitration Board under the Schemes for Conciliation & Arbitration for the Civil Service, Defence Forces and Teachers regarding the Claim by the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) for an increase in the Army Ranger Wing (ARW) Allowance, with effect from 1st October 2021.
The Department’s Finance Branch has been notified to process both the increase and the ensuing back pay element arising from the Board’s decision, with 1st October 2021 as the effective implementation date. Processing of the increase, and associated back payments, will shortly commence, and it is intended to have these payments complete by late August/early September to eligible personnel.
An increase in the ARW allowance, backdated to 1 June 2006, was recommended by an Adjudication in 2010, with a further upward review recommended in 2014 and a subsequent review every third year thereafter. The implementation of this Adjudication could not occur at the time, due to the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, 2009-2015. At the conclusion of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020, an offer was made to PDFORRA to implement a number of outstanding adjudications, including the ARW allowance adjudication, with an effective date of 1 October 2018 on a non-retrospective basis. This was accepted by PDFORRA in September 2019, without prejudice to the instigation of legal action in furtherance of the interests of its members.
The current rates of ARW allowances (last increased on 1st March 2023) are €225.62 per week for post-2013 enlisted personnel (€214.34 for pre-2013), and €216.48 per week for officers, This rate includes the 2% increase due under the Building Momentum extension agreement due on 1st March 2023.
Information with regard to pay and allowances is published and routinely updated on military.ie, and is available at the following link: Current Competitions - Defence Forces (military.ie).
