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Defence Forces Reserve
209. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Defence the terms and conditions for members of the Reserve Defence Forces; the training they have access to; the payment they receive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8673/14]
Minister for Defence (Deputy Alan Shatter): I am advised by the military authorities that the Terms and Conditions for members of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) are outlined in Defence Force Regulation R5 and Administration Instruction R5.
Members of the AR and NSR are volunteers who undertake training in their spare time. Training is delivered through evening parades, weekend training days and periods of full time training. In addition career course training and other specialist courses in personnel and logistics administration are conducted in the Defence Force Training College and the Formation Brigade Training Centres.
Members of the AR and NSR undertake unpaid training and there is also provision made for them to avail of paid training. In 2013 1,734 members of the AR and NSR availed of 23,898 paid training man-days. However, members of the AR and NSR are not employed or engaged under a contract of employment which stipulates either weekly hours of work or working time and service with the AR and NSR is not pensionable under the Army Pension Schemes.
In terms of paid training, members of the AR and NSR are generally paid at the 1st point of the pay scale of their equivalent rank in the Permanent Defence Force. Paid training for members of the AR and NSR is subject to PAYE and this requirement has been in place since 2008. They are subject to PRSI contribution class M since 01 January 2011 as the introduction of the Universal Social Charge covers the Health Contribution aspect of PRSI (previously class K1 for Reservists).
In line with the recommendations of the VFM Review of the Reserve Defence Force, gratuities were withdrawn from members of the AR and NSR at the end of 2012. In the 2013 estimates this budget was re-allocated to paid training for members of the AR and NSR. This measure was introduced to ensure an appropriate paid training allocation for the revised organisational establishment of 4,069 personnel and to ensure continued viability of the Reserve.
209. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Defence the terms and conditions for members of the Reserve Defence Forces; the training they have access to; the payment they receive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8673/14]
Minister for Defence (Deputy Alan Shatter): I am advised by the military authorities that the Terms and Conditions for members of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) are outlined in Defence Force Regulation R5 and Administration Instruction R5.
Members of the AR and NSR are volunteers who undertake training in their spare time. Training is delivered through evening parades, weekend training days and periods of full time training. In addition career course training and other specialist courses in personnel and logistics administration are conducted in the Defence Force Training College and the Formation Brigade Training Centres.
Members of the AR and NSR undertake unpaid training and there is also provision made for them to avail of paid training. In 2013 1,734 members of the AR and NSR availed of 23,898 paid training man-days. However, members of the AR and NSR are not employed or engaged under a contract of employment which stipulates either weekly hours of work or working time and service with the AR and NSR is not pensionable under the Army Pension Schemes.
In terms of paid training, members of the AR and NSR are generally paid at the 1st point of the pay scale of their equivalent rank in the Permanent Defence Force. Paid training for members of the AR and NSR is subject to PAYE and this requirement has been in place since 2008. They are subject to PRSI contribution class M since 01 January 2011 as the introduction of the Universal Social Charge covers the Health Contribution aspect of PRSI (previously class K1 for Reservists).
In line with the recommendations of the VFM Review of the Reserve Defence Force, gratuities were withdrawn from members of the AR and NSR at the end of 2012. In the 2013 estimates this budget was re-allocated to paid training for members of the AR and NSR. This measure was introduced to ensure an appropriate paid training allocation for the revised organisational establishment of 4,069 personnel and to ensure continued viability of the Reserve.
As for pensionable service, there is a few people long timers with long border service who might be able to have the argument but most of that was caught in the late '80s.
Finally with 23898/1734 = average 14 days FTT per man ( really ? I know for a fact a lot of my lads did only 7 as PDF were keeping a close watch on it .... some lads are getting a lot of days )
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