Fianna Fáil TD for Westmeath, Robert Troy, has said the flood relief work undertaken by the Defence Forces is a further demonstration of the critical public service they provide.
Deputy Troy said it was not good enough that Defence Force members had to battle the rising flood waters while receiving a miserly allowance in return.
He has written to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Defence asking them to intervene and adequately recognise the work carried out.
“The Defence Forces played a pivotal role in battling the rising floods and they are expected to do it for an allowance that equates to less than two euro per hour – that’s unacceptable.
“Without the Defence Forces many families in the affected regions would be completely isolated and cut off from support.
“For too long their worth has been undervalued by the Government. The work which they are doing and will continue to do as storm Jorge approaches needs to be recognised for the essential public service that it is,” Deputy Troy concluded.
