Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 November 2022
40. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Defence the increase in wages that has been put in place for non-commissioned Defence Force Members since June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57854/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA considerable number of measures positively impacting remuneration have been put in place for all members of the Defence Forces, to include enlisted personnel, since June 2020.
Referring specifically to the time-frame stated, starting in 2020 all public sector workers, a cohort which includes members of the Defence Forces, benefited from a 2% increase on annualised salaries from 1st October 2020 under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 .
The following national pay deal, Building Momentum – A New Public Service Agreement 2021 – 2022, allowed for further pay increases over the lifetime of that agreement:
- A general round increase in annualised basic salary of 1% or €500, whichever was the greater, which came into effect on 1st October 2021.
- A general round increase in annualised basic salaries for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater on, 1st October 2022
In accordance with Chapter 2 of this agreement, the equivalent of a 1% increase in annualised basic salaries was allocated from 1st February 2022 to be used either as an across the board pay increase or as a Sectoral Bargaining Fund. While Officers voted for a general 1% increase across pay and allowances, PDFORRA representing non commissioned members, opted to use part of this increase for Sectoral Bargaining purposes.
After significant engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, a quantum of €373,023 was allocated for PDFORRA’s use as a sectoral bargaining fund. The process of allocating this funding to non-commissioned members is almost complete at this point in time. In finalising this process, PDFORRA identified lower paid personnel as cohorts who will benefit from the Sectoral Bargaining Fund. The application of funding here will, I hope, have the added effect of acting as a retention measure for current and future Defence Forces personnel, within the enlisted ranks.
In October of this year, Building Momentum was further extended until the end of 2023. This extension provides for a further 6.5 % increase over 2022 and 2023, to include the following:
- a 3% backdated pay-rise to 02 February 2022, which has been paid to members of the Defence Forces,
- A further 2% pay increase on 1st March 2023, and
- 1.5% or €750, whichever is the greater, on 1st October 2023.
Pensionable allowances in the nature of pay will also benefit from the above increases.
I would also like to draw the Deputy's attention to the implementation of the findings of the Technical Pay Groups 2-6 Review, sanctioned by my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform on 26th May 2021. The purpose of the review, in the context of the agreement, was to rationalise existing technical pay arrangements and consider if the requirements could be met in a more cost effective manner. Approximately €967,869 has been paid out to date this year under this Review to non-commissioned members of the Defence Forces.
The Deputy may also be aware that my Department has recently implemented two of the pay-related recommendations of the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces's Report, namely, that all personnel of Private 3 Star/Able Seaman rank will be paid the full rate of Military Service Allowance (MSA) applicable to the rank, while at the same time, the requirement for that cohort to ‘mark time’ for the first three years at that rank will be removed.
These measures will result in the pay rates (to include MSA) for the ranks of Private 3 Star/Able Seaman, in their first three years of service starting at €36,418 in Year 1, rising to €37,788 in Year 2, and €39,050 in Year 3 of service. My Department has also implemented other initiatives affecting remuneration in 2022, such as extending the Naval Service Sea Going Commitment Scheme and the Naval Service Tax Credit.
Finally, and in addition to the general round of pay increases awarded to public servants, members of the Permanent Defence Force have also benefited from the implementation of increases in Defence Forces allowances, as recommended by the 2019 report of Public Service Pay Commission. These included:
- A 10% increase in military service allowance,
- The restoration of a 10% cut applied to a number of Defence Forces allowances under the Haddington Road Pay Agreement
- The restoration of premium rates for weekend security duty allowances.
- The restoration of a service commitment scheme for pilots.
