Defence payroll savings have paid for 40pc of costs of new naval ship
THE State has been able to pay for more than 40pc of the costs of a new Naval Service vessel on the back of payroll savings due to falling staff numbers in the Defence Forces. A total of €28m in payments for the underconstruction LÉ George Bernard Shaw were made out of cash that had been earmarked for pay.
Last week PDFORRA – the organisation representing enlisted personnel in the Defence Forces – raised concern at the number of retirements and a crisis in recruitment that has seen numbers in the military drop below 9,000.
The allocation of unused payroll funds for the new ship was outlined in 2016 defence accounts. They show how savings of more than €30.5m arose last year due to “higher than projected retirements and lower than projected recruitment”.
A further €6.6m was saved due to “slower than anticipated recruitment” of civilian employees.
A combined €28m from the payroll savings was allocated to facilitate payments in relation to the LÉ George Bernard Shaw, more than
40pc of its expected cost of just under €67m.
A Department of Defence statement said there is an “urgent” need to replace older ships in the fleet and that the new vessel will allow the Naval Service to meet its patrol targets as well as the requirements of missions in the Mediterranean where the Naval Service has been rescuing migrants.
It said that “historically high levels” of recruitment are being pursued, citing
690 personnel recruited last year and more than 800 due to be brought in by the end of the year. It added that the Defence Forces remains “fully funded” to meet the full cost of returning to a strength of 9,500.