Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 18 Dec 1990

Vol. 404 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - FCÁ Payments.

Michael Bell

Ceist:

17 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that (a) FCÁ members who perform 24 hour duties with the Permanent Defence Force units are being paid only one day's pay, and have to provide their own transport to and from duties which in many cases can mean a 28 hours tour of duty; (b) this payment represents an average of £1 per hour less tax and (c) for many years members were paid for two days; if he will have this matter rectified; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Taoiseach

Members of An Forsa Cosanta Áitiúil may, with their consent, be employed occasionally on security duties — for example, as duty officer at weekends. The basis of payment and rates of pay which are laid down in Defence Force regulations are set out in a statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.

Following is the statement: Where a member of the FCÁ is employed on security duties pay is issued in respect of each separate period of such duty on the following basis:

(a) WEEKEND DUTY (a period of duty not less than 16 and not exceeding 72 hours from Friday to Monday):

Period	Pay Issuable
Over 16 hours and not exceeding 30 hours	One day's pay
Over 30 hours and not exceeding 54 hours	Two days' pay
Over 54 hours and not exceeding 72 hours	Three days' pay

(b) NIGHT DUTY (a period of duty which includes not less than 6 hours between 18.00 hours and 08.00 hours).

One day's pay is issued in respect of each such period but pay is not issued in respect of more than one such period in any 24 hours.

Rates of Pay W.E.F. 1-10-1990

Rank	1 Day
	£
Sergeant-Major	43.00
Batalion Quartermaster Sergeant	41.86
Company Sergeant	38.43
Company Quartermaster Sergeant	37.71
Sergeant	34.57
Corporal	31.43
Private 3*	26.20
Private 2*	25.15
Pte. Grade 1	20.16
Officers
2 Lieutenant	29.80
Lieutenant	33.48
Captain	45.15
Commandant	54.28
Engineer Officers
Lieutenant	37.02
Captain	48.68
Commandant	59.10
Medical and Dental Officers
Lieutenant	38.76
Captain	57.62
Commandant	66.75

An Ceann Comhairle

We now proceed to deal with questions nominated for priority, for which 15 minutes only is provided in the Standing Orders of the House. Co-operation is necessary if we are to dispose of the five questions before us.