Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018
124. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps he is taking to address the retention issue in the Air Corps, in particular for pilots and technicians; and his plans to offer additional financial incentives to pilots to stay in the Air Corps on top of their salary as was done in the past. [15302/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra125. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the process if a pilot in the Air Corps wants to buy themselves out of their contract at an earlier date; and the cost to the person by each possible year of exit post-qualification and pre-completion of the contract. [15303/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 125 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, under my direction, the Department of Defence brought the issue of the retention of certain specialist, including Air Corps pilots, to the attention of the Public Service Pay Commission in 2017. This matter is referenced in paragraph 6.29 of the Commission's report of May 2017.
The Government has tasked the Public Service Pay Commission with examining recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Sector in more detail and issues relating to pilots and technicians will be examined within this forum. In this context, the Public Service Pay Commission has requested detailed information from the Department of Defence. The Department has forwarded an initial tranche of information to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and further information will be sent in the coming weeks. The Public Service Pay Commission is due to complete work in this regard in the second half of 2018.
With regard to Air Corps pilots "buying out" their contracts, Defence Force Regulations A.3 (Cadets) provide for the completion of a written undertaking by an Air Corps cadet, that in the event of resignation or voluntary retirement before the expiration of a time specified by the Minister (12 years), the cadet will refund the amount set by the Minister in respect of the cost of training. This amount includes the total pay and allowances paid while undergoing pilot training, costs of tuition, cost of the use of aircraft and equipment during training and all other costs arising from training as an aircraft pilot.
As the amounts payable are calculated on case-by-case basis, pay and allowances payable to an individual in addition to the costs of educational courses vary depending on time served etc. Accordingly, it is not possible to provide a generic sum for the amount an officer of the Air Corps would be expected to repay by each possible year of exit post-qualification and pre-completion of the contract.
Similar undertakings also apply in many other areas of the Permanent Defence Forces, where there is significant training and education investment in individuals.
