Sir, – A letter (January 27th) states that the starting pay for recruits in the Defence Forces is €334 per week.
This is incorrect.
The current starting pay for a recruit is in fact €479.40 per week or annualised to €24,928.80. On completion of training and having reached the rank of three-star private, pay, including military service allowance, is €728.55 per week.
However, duty hours can be well in excess of 40 hours per week, so implementation of the working time directive along with improvements in conditions of service and pensions are required to make it an attractive career package.
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For people who are prepared to defend, protect, and support the State, often in hostile environments, the rewards should reflect the effort. – Yours, etc,
CONOR HOGARTY,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
