Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 February 2019
31. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to address the issue of continuous underfunding of the Defence Forces, limiting their ability to pay soldiers a proper wage. [9686/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraSeveral weeks ago we had the powerful Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, ONE, campaign that highlighted homelessness among former servicemen and women. I acknowledge that following a question from Deputy Howlin, the Minister of State agreed to meet representatives of the Defence Forces to discuss their concerns. I am interested to hear whether this meeting has taken place as it is a source of national shame that our veterans, who know better than most the power of our national flag, must resort to sleeping on the streets of Dublin in green, white and orange sleeping bags to highlight their plight.
The question I have from the Deputy is on pay.
Yes. They were my opening comments. It is the context.
As part of budget 2019, the Government has provided a funding envelope for Defence of €1.007 billion, an increase of €60 million, or 6.4%, over 2018. This emphasises the importance attached by the Government to ensuring that the Defence Forces have the resources necessary to deliver on all roles assigned by Government, at home and overseas. The 2019 provision comprises €758 million for Vote 36 - Defence, an increase of more than €50 million, and €249 million for Vote 35 - Army Pensions, an increase of €10 million.
Overall, approximately 77% of the defence sector provision relates to pay and pensions. The 2019 provision for pay in Vote 36 is €529 million, and this provides for the pay and allowances of more than 10,400 public service employees, including 9,500 Permanent Defence Force personnel, 550 civilian employees and 355 civil servants. The Government has ensured that full funding has been provided for 2019 for the target strength for the Permanent Defence Force of 9,500.
Pay is being restored to members of the Defence Forces and other public servants in accordance with public sector pay agreements. The focus of these increases is weighted in favour of those on lower pay. Following the increases paid under the Lansdowne Road agreement, further increases were paid in 2018 under the Public Sector Stability Agreement 2018-2020, with additional increases due in 2019. The allocation includes €6.3 million to meet the additional commitments for 2019. Further increases in pay are scheduled for 2020.
In accordance with the provisions of Public Services Stability Agreement 2018-2020, the Government has tasked the Public Service Pay Commission with conducting a more comprehensive examination of recruitment and retention challenges in the defence sector. The work of the commission is ongoing. The Government will give due consideration to the findings and recommendations that arise from the work of the commission.
The non-pay allocation, including capital, for Vote 36 in 2019 is €229 million and this provides for essential and ongoing Defence Forces standing and operational costs as well as the provision of essential procurement and upgrading of defensive equipment and infrastructure.
I mentioned the ONE campaign because it was a powerful statement which, in its blunt starkness, highlighted the extent to which our Defence Forces veterans and current servicemen feel left on the periphery. I have previously raised the issue of the wages of Defence Forces personnel being far below what they ought to be, with some members paid close to minimum wage for work that deserves far more. That work requires great discipline and sacrifice by the personnel and their loved ones. I have raised this issue on multiple occasions and will continue to so do until the members of the Defence Forces are given the respect they deserve, which is most reflected by how much they are paid and their conditions of employment. The increased funding allocated over the past two years went towards ICT, military hardware and equipment upgrades in many ways. Those upgrades are very important, but the real need for funding is in the area of pay and wages. Not enough is being done. There is no light at the end of the tunnel for members of our Defence Forces, as highlighted by the recent campaigns.
I disagree with the Deputy regarding there being no light at the end of the tunnel. The Government is addressing the issue of pay. I have stated on the public record - in barracks and in the House - and in private that pay is a challenge for the Defence Forces and that is why the Government is addressing this issue. The Deputy has been a Member of this House for many years. He was a member of Government from 2011 to 2016. He is aware of the challenges in regard to public service pay. I do not want the message to go out that members of the Defence Forces are paid very little. Among enlisted personnel, the average gross earnings in 2018 of a three-star private was €37,529; a corporal, €41,076; a sergeant, €44,622; a company quartermaster, €49,605; a company sergeant, €50,224; a battalion quartermaster, €53,616; and a sergeant major, €54,878. In the officer corps, the average gross earnings of a second lieutenant was €37,108; a lieutenant, €42,291; a captain, €53,138; a commandant, €66,496; a lieutenant colonel, €79,162; and a colonel, €88,480. The starting salary for a three-star private in the Defence Forces is €27,759.76, while a school-leaver newly commissioned officer would receive €35,614 and a graduate lieutenant a starting salary of €40,566. I acknowledge that those are starting salaries and that members may experience challenges later in their career in the Defence Forces. That is why there is an independent Public Service Pay Commission, as I earlier outlined to Deputy Jack Chambers. We are addressing this issue. It is taking time to so do and I acknowledge that is frustrating, but there is a significant amount of work to get through.
Members of the Defence Forces do not take to the streets lightly. The ONE campaign highlighted what can happen when retired members of the Defence Forces fall off the edge of society. We have let them down. Defence Forces veterans are to hold a national march in Cork on May Day to highlight the poor pay and conditions endured by serving members of the military. It will be the second national march organised by veterans, with a march having been held last September outside Leinster House. Members of our Defence Forces do not take such action lightly. They are very loyal to our State and are protectors of our sovereignty. For them to demonstrate in such a manner is a significant reaction. The level of pay of members of the Defence Forces and the way in which they are treated serves to push more and more of our veterans into abject and total poverty. The legacy of this Government should not be to leave the members of the Defence Forces demoralised, poor and at risk of falling off the edge. I acknowledge that the Minister of State hopes to address this issue, but money is now available which may not have been available in the past. We must address the cause of the workers, particularly low pay. Some are in receipt of the working family payment and finding it difficult to pay for accommodation. We must take seriously and address these issues for our Defence Forces. The Minister of State is making efforts but they must be accelerated.
Less than 1% of members of the Defence Forces or the Department of Defence are in receipt of the working family payment. I want to clearly send that message because-----
The Minister of State must acknowledge that no member of the Defence Forces should be in receipt of the working family payment.
The working family payment is there for a reason. A newly recruited three star private may have no children or three children. The Deputy understands why the working family payment is there, namely, to subsidise families with specific needs.
On the ONE campaign referred to by the Deputy, I have met representatives of ONE and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association, IUNVA. I increased funding for ONE by 108% this year. Its campaign aimed to highlight the services it provides for ex-members of the Defence Forces who have fallen on hard times. It does a fantastic job in that regard. It is out there helping people. My Department and the Defence Forces are willing to assist the ONE campaign. Not all of the veterans' organisations have participated in protests such as the march for veterans to which the Deputy referred.
