Simon Coveney
Ceist:160 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Defence the reasons there has not been an increase in the Naval Service value based ration system since its inception (details supplied). [4075/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 11 February 2004
Ceisteanna (98)
Freagraí scríofa
In 1998 the Defence Forces introduced a value based approach to the provision of rations for military personnel. Under this system the expenditure on foodstuff was based on the needs of the Defence Forces and the cost of the foodstuff.
Under Defence Forces regulation personnel can, under certain circumstances, avail of rations on repayment with the charge being set at the cost of the foodstuff plus an allowance for overheads. In 1998 the cost of foodstuff was €2.75 per man day while the daily ration charge was set at €3.81. In the intervening period the cost of foodstuff has increased to €4.10 and agreement has now been reached with the representative association to increase the daily ration charge to €5.75 per day with effect from 1 March next. This revised charge will apply to all branches of the Defence Forces, that is, the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service. As a result of this agreement, arrangements are being made to increase the cost of foodstuff allowance under the ration based system.