Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 December 2017
279. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if duty moneys owed to members of the Defence Forces are being paid in a timely manner; if protocol exists to ensure no delays in payments of moneys due; and if staffing constraints exist that would delay payments due. [52251/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAfter a Security Duty is performed by a member of the Permanent Defence Force, the details of the duty are entered on the Defence Forces’ Personnel Management System (PMS) at unit level, where certain unit personnel have responsibilities relating to the processing of such duties. If the relevant personnel are not available the responsibilities relating to Security Duty Allowance (SDA) can be assigned to other unit personnel.
Once claims are approved by an authorised officer at unit level, the process for the payment of SDA is that all approved claims are downloaded electronically from the PMS on the 10th of each month (or closest working day) and sent to the Department’s Finance Branch from where they are forwarded electronically to the Department’s payroll provider for payment in the next available payroll.
I have been advised by the Military Authorities that all Defence Forces units have been informed of their responsibilities in relation to the processing of Security Duty Allowances by the relevant date. The process is contained in an Administrative Instruction which sets out the responsibilities of all relevant appointment holders involved.
