Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 March 2025
232. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount of unspent allocation for Defence Forces staffing in each year since 2018 based on the revised estimate for each year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11317/25]
View answerPay funding for Permanent Defence Force (PDF) personnel is provided from Subhead A.3: Permanent Defence Force: Pay in the Defence Vote. The table below outlines the allocation, expenditure and unspent allocation within this subhead, over the period from 2018 to 2024.
|
A.3 PDF PAY |
Allocation €m |
Expenditure €m |
Allocation Unspent €m |
|
2018 |
€428.2 |
€398.7 |
(€29.5) |
|
2019 |
€446.7 |
€418.6 |
(€28.1) |
|
2020 |
€438.1 |
€405.5 |
(€32.6) |
|
2021 |
€445.5 |
€419.5 |
(€26.0) |
|
2022 |
€455.5 |
€429.0 |
(€26.5) |
|
2023 |
€467.6 |
€424.2 |
(€43.4) |
|
2024* |
€452.0 |
€440.4 |
(€11.6) |
*The expenditure figures for 2024 are based on the provisional outturn.
The unspent allocation in this subhead over this period arose primarily from Permanent Defence Force numbers falling below the target strength. However, the figures for PDF numbers provided for 2024 indicate a stabilisation in numbers. There were 708 personnel inducted in 2024, the highest in over five years. In addition, there were 674 discharges, 81 fewer than the previous year and the lowest since 2020. The Defence Forces have further advised that they are targeting 800 inductions this year
Throughout the period in question, in accordance with Government accounting procedures and agreement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, any unused allocation arising on this and other subheads in the Defence Vote, were utilised to address spending pressures elsewhere in Defence. This prudent approach has ensured that only €36 million (0.6%) of the overall gross allocation of €5,741 million allocated to the Defence Vote over the 2018-2024 period remained unspent.
It should also be noted that public sector pay rates are determined centrally by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, therefore, the Department of Defence does not have any unilateral authority to ring-fence and utilise any of this unused pay expenditure to increase PDF pay.
