The Minister for Defence Simon Coveney recently announced that his Department of Justice will implement two of the pay-related recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces Report.
The measures will result in the pay rates for Private 3 Star/Able Seaman in their first three years of service starting at €34,798 in Year 1; €36,128 in Year 2; and €37,353 in Year 3 of service.
If ratified, the recently agreed extension to the Building Momentum Pay Agreement will further improve members' pay and allowances like pay by 6.5% between 2022 and 2023.
Fianna Fail TD for Cavan-Monaghan & North Meath, Deputy Niamh Smyth says the "improvements" in pay and allowances for new Defence Forces recruits are now evident.
She added that Defence Force personnel's daily ration allowance should be raised to reflect present-day inflation prices as the Minister recently announced a 52% increase in the rate.
