asked the Minister for Defence if he has decided to increase the Air Corps pilots' salary to make it equal to commercial pilots' salaries.
Written Answers. - Air Corps Pilots Pay Rates.
145.
Limerick West): The pay rates of Air Corps pilots are determined in the context of their conditions of service and the pay rates of other members of the Permanent Defence Force. In that connection an officer may, at a relatively young age, retire from the Permanent Defence Force with a substantial gratuity and pension and have the benefit of these payments in addition to the salary attaching to any civilian employment. For this reason, the rate of pay he gets as a commercial pilot is not directly comparable to his pay (including pension entitlements) as an Air Corps pilot.