Michael Ahern
Ceist:39 Mr. M. Ahern asked the Minister for Defence the current position regarding former NCOs commissioned from the ranks whose retirement age has now been reduced from 60 to 56 years. [19897/96]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Personnel.
Seán Power
Ceist:270 Mr. Power asked the Minister for Defence the current position regarding former NCOs commissioned from the ranks whose retirement age has now been reduced from 60 to 56 years. [19921/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 270 together.
The ages for retirement for officers of the Permanent Defence Force are prescribed in Defence Force Regulations A.15. With the exception of technical officers, the normal retirement age for officers in the rank of captain is 54 years, commandant 56 years, and lieutenant-colonel 58 years.
Schemes for the retention in service of officers of the Permanent Defence Force beyond their normal age for retirement were introduced in the 1970s in the context of conserving the numerical strength of officers at that time. Under the terms of the schemes officers in the ranks of captain, commandant and lieutenant-colonel could apply to be retained up to age 60 years.
In the context of negotiations under Clause 2 of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work under the Defence Forces Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme and, by way of a quid pro quo, agreement was reached with the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) on the abolition of the schemes for the retention in service of officers on a phased basis up to 2001.
Batt O'Keeffe
Ceist:42 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the unease of members who have enlisted under the new five year contract programme in view of the fact that, to date, the members claim that the programme has not been explained in its entirely to the 500 men and women who have been recruited on this basis. [16407/96]
Personnel enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force in 1994 were appointed for a fixed period of five years with a Reserve Force commitment of seven years. Before the expiry of the five year term personnel who fulfil certain criteria will be given the option of a further period of service in the PDF.
Consultation with the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association on the continuation in service criteria is ongoing and to date a very useful exchange of views has taken place.
I am confident that many of the concerns of PDFORRA will be accommodated and that the discussions will be concluded to the satisfaction of all concerned.