Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 October 2022
87. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Defence when the pay improvements outlined in the High-Level Action Plan will be paid to military personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49049/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the Commission on the Defence Forces High Level Action Plan (HLAP) identifies a number of pay-related recommendations for progression, including the intention to progress implementation of the following:
- Removing the requirement for a 3 Star Private/Able Seaman to ‘mark time’ for the first three years at that rank,
- Ensuring that all personnel of Private 3 Star/Able Seaman rank are paid the full rate of MSA applicable to the rank, and
- Providing immediate access to the Sea-going Service Commitment Scheme to direct entry personnel in the Navy;
I am pleased to announce that following consultation with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, my Department can now proceed to implement the first two early actions, the removal of Marked Time and the payment of the full rate of MSA. This will result in the pay rates for Private 3 Star/Able Seaman in their first three years of service rising to €34,798 in Year 1, €36,128 in Year 2, and €37,353 in Year 3.
A number of other remunerative elements have been prioritised in the HLAP, including a commitment to commence further evaluation of:
- Replacing the existing sea-going allowances with less complex sea-going duty measures,
- Introducing Long Service Increments to the pay scales of all ranks of enlisted personnel,
- On the basis that all personnel should, in the first instance, be paid the full rate of MSA applicable to their rank, MSA should be abolished and the full applicable rate integrated into core pay.
In addition, the HLAP states a commitment to commence examination of options in relation to a mechanism for review of existing specialist pay rates and allowances.
The HLAP also set out proposed implementation and oversight structures, and the Implementation Oversight Group met for the first time on 3rd October. A civil/military Implementation Management Office has been established to support the implementation of the overall transformation programme required to implement recommendations from the report of the Commission. The initial focus of the IMO is the implementation of the 38 early actions as set out in the High Level Action Plan and the development of a detailed Implementation Plan. Reporting mechanisms have been established to facilitate regular progress reports on the early actions to the IMO and the civil/military Strategic Management Committee. The Implementation Management Office will monitor and report on actions against set timeframes for the early actions and the detailed implementation plan. The measures set out above will be progressed as part of that Plan.
