Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
161. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel who purchased their way out of service in the years 2019 to date; the average discharge by purchase fee, by month, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14973/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDefence Force Regulations (DFR) A10 and A15 provide for the discharge and retirement of Permanent Defence Force enlisted personnel and officers respectively. The vast majority of persons discharging from the Defence Forces do so at no cost.
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. Recruits can also elect to discharge by purchase.
It should be noted that a small percentage of recruits and apprentices will be required to pay a nominal fee for ‘discharge by purchase’. While the average discharge by purchase fee is not readily available, I have been advised that the majority of personnel who owe a service undertaking, owe a nominal fee below €5,000.
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 and DFR A15.
The military authorities have advised that the table below provides details of the number of Defence Forces personnel that discharged by purchase in each of the years 2019 to end February 2024.
|
Discharges by Purchase |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
JAN |
12 |
27 |
12 |
17 |
9 |
13 |
|
FEB |
27 |
16 |
11 |
30 |
14 |
18 |
|
MAR |
23 |
18 |
12 |
23 |
24 |
NA |
|
APR |
40 |
16 |
15 |
25 |
22 |
NA |
|
MAY |
34 |
9 |
45 |
21 |
39 |
NA |
|
JUN |
37 |
13 |
28 |
22 |
27 |
NA |
|
JUL |
22 |
15 |
19 |
24 |
18 |
NA |
|
AUG |
34 |
11 |
18 |
37 |
21 |
NA |
|
SEP |
30 |
30 |
34 |
44 |
30 |
NA |
|
OCT |
32 |
53 |
32 |
27 |
29 |
NA |
|
NOV |
35 |
26 |
37 |
28 |
20 |
NA |
|
DEC |
39 |
26 |
26 |
40 |
16 |
NA |
|
TOTAL |
365 |
260 |
289 |
338 |
269 |
31 |
