PAC to review allowances at the Department of Defence

Chairman of the Committee John McGuinness, TD, said: “In all, 65 different allowances are paid to Defence Force Personnel and the annual cost of these allowances is €98.9 million. Eleven of these allowances have been identified for early elimination including the border duty allowance which cost €4.47 million in 2011. The PAC has discussed the border duty allowance in the past and recommended at the time that it not be paid to new recruits and that it be bought out.

Clearly there are too many allowances and the pay structures are very complicated. While allowances are a way of paying for a specific function, nevertheless the structure is calling out to be simplified and there is an urgent need to streamline the system. While the average pay, especially for non-commissioned officers who form the bulk of the army, is low and some allowances now form part of core pay, we need to stress test the continued payment of allowances based on the business cases published. Tomorrow, we will have an opportunity to examine in detail the various allowances with the Secretary General and tease out how the Department plans to simplify the structure.”

RACO and PDFORRA will also be attending and making presentations to the Public Accounts Committee. The meeting starts at 11am on Thursday, 18th October in Committee Room 1, LH 2000.

Committee proceedings can be followed live at: http://bit.ly/24YmPI

Ends

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Committee of Public Accounts

Membership

John McGuinness (Chairman)
Kieran O’Donnell (Vice Chairman)
Paul J Connaughton,
John Deasy,
Paschal Donohoe,
Gerald Nash,
Simon Harris,
Michael McCarthy,
Mary Lou McDonald,
Sean Fleming,
Eoghan Murphy,
Derek Nolan,
Shane Ross