Thursday, 11 Jul 2019

Defence Forces Personnel Data

Ceisteanna (65, 66, 94, 95)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

65. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of persons who purchased their discharge from the Permanent Defence Force in each of the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30551/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

66. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount collected from those who purchased their discharge in each of the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30552/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

94. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 73 of 8 May 2019, if the information requested will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30607/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

95. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 117 of 11 June 2019, if the information requested will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30609/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 66, 94 and 95 together.

Statistics are currently being collated in order to provide a comprehensive response to these questions. Full data is not available in the timeframe set out for reply as the validation of some data requires a manual search of records which is being undertaken at the moment.

I will revert once the relevant data is provided to me.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A

With regard to the above-referenced composite parliamentary questions, I undertook to reply to you with the information requested. The table below provides details of the number of Defence Forces discharges in each of the years 2010 to 2018, the number of those that discharged by purchase, broken down by rank, and the amount received by the Department for these discharges.

DEFENCE FORCES DISCHARGES

Year	Service					Discharge by Purchase by Rank*	Amount received by the Department from Discharge by Purchase	Voluntary early retirement**	Other Discharges incl retirements on age grounds***
		SGT	CPL	PTE	RECRUIT	APPRENTICE
2018	ARMY	0	11	96	100	0	€61,428.63	220	98
	NS	0	1	62	13	0	€71,834.97	49	22
	AC	0	0	5	0	2	€10,519.00	47	5
2017	ARMY	0	5	105	146	0	€55,277.19	227	103
	NS	1	3	29	15	0	€33,462.80	41	8
	AC	0	3	3	3	2	€20,493.50	36	12
2016	ARMY	0	3	85	117	0	€66,650.98	223	101
	NS	0	2	40	6	0	€29,236.00	46	9
	AC	0	0	1	0	2	€ 7,910.00	33	11
2015	ARMY	0	5	68	45	0	€94,262.48	238	82
	NS	1	2	27	4	0	€41,564.47	35	6
	AC	0	2	5	0	1	€11,625.00	43	7
2014	ARMY	0	1	25	95	0	€10,982.50	180	78
	NS	1	0	15	4	0	€34,705.00	32	7
	AC	0	1	4	0	0	€26,775.00	30	8

DEFENCE FORCES DISCHARGES

Year	Service					Discharge by Purchase by Rank*	Amount received by the Department from Discharge by Purchase	Voluntary early retirement**	Other Discharges incl retirements on age grounds***
		SGT	CPL	PTE	RECRUIT	APPRENTICE
2013	ARMY	0	1	24	76	0	€23,643.30	186	75
	NS	0	0	15	5	0	€ 8,830.00	47	7
	AC	0	2	2	0	0	€ 7,149.00	24	5
2012	ARMY	0	2	28	86	0	€19,491.75	487	54
	NS	0	0	12	9	0	€14,157.75	61	3
	AC	0	0	2	9	0	€ 4,368.71	45	5
2011	ARMY	0	0	35	37	0	€19,435.00	352	92
	NS	0	0	13	3	0	€10,695.00	73	3
	AC	0	2	6	9	0	€13,076.50	46	12
2010	ARMY	0	2	24	2	0	€10,190.00	315	84
	NS	0	0	8	1	0	€ 4,665.00	37	3
	AC	1	0	6	0	0	€26,788.88	35	9

There are a range of reasons why personnel retire from the Defence Forces.

*Discharge by purchase occurs when a Non Commissioned Officer or Private elects to leave the Defence Forces and pays an appropriate sum to discharge, in accordance with Defence Force Regulation A10 Para 61 (3). Recruits can also elect to discharge by purchase and a significant proportion of recruits, approximately 22% on average, depart from the Defence Forces during the training phase for various reasons.

Monetary sums in relation to discharge by purchase are assessed on a case by case basis depending on years of service, undertaking etc. The guidelines associated with determination of the amount payable on discharge are contained within DFR A10 Para 58(H), DFR A10 Para 61 and DFR A15 Para 19(2). The validation of some data required a manual search of records and the discharge payment records for 9 Army personnel (6 Pte and 3 Recruit) is estimated and subject to minor amendment.

**Voluntary early retirements occur when personnel wish to end their service at break points before reaching the mandatory retirement age limit for his/her respective rank. These retirements occur at the persons own request, at his/her request after 12 years, expiry of PDF service, on pension after 21 years, or on termination of engagement.

***Other discharges include retirement on age grounds, death, below medical standards, service no longer required, or unlikely to become effective.

Defence Forces Review

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 67, 68, 72, 74 to 76, inclusive, and 86 together.

I welcome the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) latest report and the recommendations, observations and comments contained therein.

The recommendations within the report have been distilled into specific actions, applying corresponding timeframes, within an approved High Level Implementation Plan. Work has commenced in advancing the actions contained in this plan.

I am confident that the implementation of the PSPC’s recommendations, in tandem with pay benefits delivered by the Public Service Stability Agreement, will ameliorate current recruitment and retention challenges being experienced by the Permanent Defence Force.

Questions Nos. 69 to 71, inclusive, answered with Question No. 40.

Question No. 72 answered with Question No. 67.

Question No. 73 answered with Question No. 54.

Questions Nos. 74 to 76, inclusive, answered with Question No. 67.

Questions Nos. 77 and 78 answered with Question No. 54.

Question No. 79 answered with Question No. 40.

Question No. 80 answered with Question No. 54.

Question No. 81 answered with Question No. 40.

Questions Nos. 82 to 84, inclusive, answered with Question No. 54.

Defence Forces Training

Ceisteanna (85)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

85. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the way in which the Permanent Defence Force can manage the increased training requirements for recruitment with ongoing operational deficits in certain units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30571/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

Formulation of recruitment plans by the Defence Forces is underpinned by their training capacity and their efforts to maximise that capacity.

The military authorities have advised that analysis is carried out to ascertain the instructor requirements for recruit induction training while taking account of existing operational commitments.

The military authorities have further advised that it is standard practice within the Defence Forces to augment Unit instructors with instructors from other Units within the Brigade, as and if required.

Question No. 86 answered with Question No. 67.

Air Corps Strength

Ceisteanna (87)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

87. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the way in which he will respond to the conclusion in the Public Service Pay Commission report that the Air Corps services are in jeopardy; his views on whether services are being compromised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30573/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

As provided in the White Paper on Defence (2015), the Air Corps provide a broad range of services in accordance with its primary security role and also undertakes a diverse range of non-security-related tasks on an ‘as available’ basis. I can assure the Deputy, that the Air Corps will continue to provide support and services on an 'as available' basis, having regard to available capabilities and its primary security responsibilities. I have also previously outlined particular challenges with vacancies in certain specialist posts in the Air Corps such as Pilots, Air Traffic Controllers and certain Technicians. These specialists can prove difficult to retain where, as in the current economic circumstances, there are on-going private sector and commercial semi-state sector job opportunities.

At its meeting held on the 4th July 2019, the Government accepted, in full, the report of the Public Service Pay Commission on recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces. The Government also agreed an extensive implementation plan for the report.

The implementation plan is arranged around three broad themes of valuing members of the PDF, retaining the best people and attracting the best people. The plan, agreed by Government, sets out the actions to be taken and the timelines within which they will be taken, i.e. immediate, short term, medium term and long term. The implementation plan complements a range of actions that are already underway in the Department and the Defence Forces, to enhance recruitment and retention in the PDF.

In addition, the plan sets out an oversight process and my Department is putting in place the civil and military structures to support this.

The report of the Public Service Pay Commission is currently being considered by the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations and there will be further meetings in the coming weeks to clarify any matters arising.

Air Corps Strength

Ceisteanna (88)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

88. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the position regarding the serious impact on the military air traffic system as identified in the Public Service Pay Commission report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30574/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

I have previously outlined particular challenges with vacancies in certain specialist posts such as Pilots, Air Traffic Controllers and certain Technicians. These specialists can prove difficult to retain where, as in the current economic circumstances, there are on-going private sector and commercial semi-state sector job opportunities.

In addition, the plan sets out an oversight process and my Department is putting in place the civil and military structures to support this.

Question No. 89 answered with Question No. 54.