Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:113. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the pay scales of all ranks in the Defence Forces. [5731/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 6 February 2018
Ceisteanna (113, 114)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:114. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when the Defence Forces last received a direct pay increase. [5732/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 114 together.
Rates of pay and conditions of employment in the Irish public sector have traditionally been set, inter alia, by reference to relative levels of pay across the various sectors of the Irish public sector.
Under current Public Service Pay Agreements, pay is being restored to public servants, including members of the Permanent Defence Force.
PDFORRA signed up to the Lansdowne Road Agreement in March 2017. The finalisation of negotiations under the agreement allowed for the commencement of the process for the implementation of pay increases and arrears, which have now been applied to the Permanent Defence Force. An increase of 2.5% from 1 January 2016, for annualised salaries up to €24,000 and 1% for annualised salaries between €24,001 and €31,000 was included in the weekly payroll of 5 July 2017. An increase of €1,000 from 1 April 2017, on annualised salaries up to €65,000 per annum was paid on 19 July 2017. The increases due to Officers were paid earlier in the year as RACO had already signed up to the Agreement.
Following these revisions of pay, the first point on the payscale for a Corporal, including Military Service Allowance, is around €37,000. The first point on the payscale for a Sergeant, including Military Service Allowance, is just under €40,000 per annum. A newly qualified non-graduate entry 2nd Lieutenant can expect a minimum of €35,000 per annum after 15 months of training, while a graduate entry Lieutenant can expect a minimum of €39,860 per annum after 15 months of training.
In addition to this, as a result of successful negotiations with PDFORRA, the pay of general service recruits and privates who joined the Permanent Defence Force post 1 January 2013, was increased further. These improved payscales, were backdated to 1 July 2016 and the payments were made with backmoney due in August 2017. The starting pay for a newly qualified three star private, and their Naval Service equivalent, saw an increase from €21,800 to €27,000 (inclusive of military service allowance) gross annual earnings, with scope for further income from duties.
The rates of pay and allowances for Permanent Defence Force personnel can be obtained from the Department of Defence website at http://www.defence.ie/WebSite.nsf/Document+ID/74BC7A8BD49284538025817F0056D023?openDocument.
The Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations, who participated in the negotiations on the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020, accepted the terms of the agreement in December 2017. As a result of this all Permanent Defence Force personnel will benefit from the planned phased pay increases outlined in the agreement. Arrangements are being made to process the first 1% increase in annualised salaries due from 1 January 2018, for Permanent Defence Force personnel.
The new pay scales reflecting these increases will be available on the Department of Defence website shortly.