General service recruits and Privates who joined the Permanent Defence Force after January 1, 2013, are set to receive further increases to their pay in the coming weeks.
Fine Gael Defence Spokesperson Senator Gabrielle McFadden has welcomed the agreement reached with PDFORRA, which includes the introduction of a revised pay scale for new entrants.
“I am delighted with this increase as I have been campaigning hard on this issue since being elected to the Oireachtas,” Senator McFadden said. “We need to ensure that military service is an attractive career option for young men and women, and salary levels was one of the issues that I identified as a challenge to recruitment and retention.
“This is a real help to those who are entering the Defence Forces. When combined with other increases, paid recently under the Lansdowne Road Agreement, these personnel will experience an increase of between 8 per cent and 24 per cent, depending on their point in their pay scales.
“These improved pay scales follow on from other recent payments amounting to an increase of approximately €19 gross per week. This is a step in the right direction in recognising the need for better conditions for all military personnel. The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 contains proposals for further increases to pay of between 5 per cent and 7 per cent over the lifetime of the agreement, and is under currently consideration by the representative associations.”
Senator McFadden has thanked Minister of State for Defence, Paul Kehoe, for making these improvements. She added that anyone seeking further information and a breakdown of the pay scales is welcome to contact her office for full details of the changes.
