The Irish Naval Service is competing directly with private business as they struggle to retain personnel
PDForra which represents members of the Defence Forces has long been raising the difficulties facing naval personnel with the low level of wages a major stumbling block in attracting and retaining people
In the past RedFM News has highlighted how sailors have been forced to sleep onboard naval ships at Haulbowline as they were so poorly paid that they could not afford rising rents or mortgages in the Cork region
Now the lack of specialised personnel and the retention crisis has led to the entire naval fleet being tied up at Haulbowline as ships will not be sent to sea if they are not adequately crewed as it would be a health and safety risk
Speaking to RedFM News PDFORRA President Mark Keane works at the naval base says the poor levels of pay needs to be addressed now
"People are looking at employment outside. It's more attractive currently, the rates of pay for overtime or weekend work, things like that, So we're trying to compete with that. That is the main attraction is private industry, especially in the Lower Harbour, there is industry actively recruiting and also a lot of companies around Cork City are actively recruiting from our ranks. So what needs to be done is all the stakeholders need to engage and we need to address the issue as a matter of urgency. The solution would be to look at the amalgamation of three allowances, which exists currently for people going to sea and amalgamate those three allowances"
