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Defence Forces Remuneration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018

Tuesday, 12 June 2018

Ceisteanna (134)

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

134. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to introduce changes for aircraft apprentices in both pay and rank to increase the attractiveness of the position. [24284/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

There were 22 Air Corps apprentices inducted into the Defence Forces in 2017. The most recent competition for apprentices was launched on 2nd March 2018 and ran until 25th May 2018. This competition yielded 931 applications for the 28 available positions. These applications are now being processed.

Rates of pay and conditions of employment within the Irish public service in general, have traditionally been set by, amongst other things, reference to levels of pay across the various sectors of the Irish public service. Defence Forces pay is increasing in accordance with public sector pay agreements. The focus of these increases is weighted in favour of those on lower pay. The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 provides for further increases in pay ranging from 6.2% to 7.4% over the lifetime of the Agreement with the focus of the agreement once again being on the lower paid. A 1% increase in annualised salaries due from 1 January 2018 has been paid to members of the Permanent Defence Force.

In 2017, under my direction, the Department of Defence raised recruitment and retention issues as part of the submission to the Public Service Pay Commission. The Government tasked the Public Service Pay Commission with examining these challenges in the Defence Sector in more detail. The Public Service Pay Commission has commenced this work and has requested detailed information from the Department of Defence. Defence management have forwarded some material and further material will be sent to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the coming weeks. The Public Service Pay Commission is due to complete this work in the second half of 2018. The findings and proposals arising will be considered at that time.

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