There are many reasons why individuals leave the Defence Forces, which includes: retirement on reaching mandatory age limits, completion of service, individual personal circumstances, other career opportunities, ill health, failure to meet fitness and medical standards, etc.
Discharge figures, outlined in the table below, details the number of non-commissioned members and commissioned officers of the Defence Forces that have retired or resigned, in each of the past five years. These figures include General Service recruits, who left before completing their training.
|
Year
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
|
Officer
|
76
|
57
|
70
|
35
|
31
|
|
Other Ranks
|
666
|
683
|
812
|
601
|
643
|
|
Total
|
742
|
740
|
882
|
636
|
674
|
The Defence Forces are paid increases in pay and allowances in line with Public Service pay agreements. The current public service pay agreement, ‘Building Momentum – A New Public Service Agreement 2021 – 2022’ provides for increases in pay and allowances to all public servants, including members of the Defence Forces. Most recently, a general round increase in annualised basic salary of 1% or €500, whichever was the greater, came into effect on 1st October 2021. In addition, fixed periodic pensionable allowances and allowances in the nature of pay were also increased by 1% on this date.
The agreement provides for further increases in 2022, i.e.:
- The equivalent of a 1% increase in annualised basic salaries to be used as a Sectoral Bargaining Fund, in accordance with Chapter 2 of the Agreement, on 1st February 2022.
- A general round increase in annualized basic salaries for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater on, 1st October 2022. Fixed periodic pensionable allowances and allowances in the nature of pay will also be increased by 1% on this date, as well.
In addition to the general round of pay increases, members of the Permanent Defence Force have also benefitted from the implementation of increases in Defence Forces allowances as recommended by the Public Service Pay Commission in 2019.
The Government remains fully committed to addressing pay and conditions in the Defence Forces. The Commission on the Defence Forces, which was established by Government, includes in its terms of reference, an examination of the evolution of all remuneration systems and structures, currently in place in the Defence Forces.
The Commission is due to submit their report shortly and I look forward to receiving the report in due course. The recommendations will then be fully considered and will inform future decisions regarding the Defence Forces
As provided in the Programme for Government, I will then consult with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the establishment of a permanent pay review body, reflecting the unique nature of military service in the context of the Pubic Service.
PDFORRA initiated legal proceedings in June 2020, in respect of their request to affiliate with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. As this matter is now Sub-judice, it would not be appropriate to comment further.
