The Defence Forces handed back nearly €100m to the Exchequer over the last five years.

Figures supplied to Fianna Fáil defence spokesperson Jack Chambers reveal that almost €140m of Defence Forces funding has gone unspent over the last five years – with more than €92 returned to the Exchequer.

It is believed the savings are the result of numbers in the Defence Forces dropping below the recommended 9,500 members.

Deputy Chambers said it is “baffling” that the money was returned, instead of used to fund better salaries for members of the Defence Forces.

Defence Forces

Soldiers have warned of a recruitment and retention crisis across the Defence Forces due to low pay and allowances.

Pay scales within the Defence Forces currently begin at €27,000, including allowances and a year-long recruitment campaign in 2017 saw a net increase of just three members.

Almost €140m of Defence Forces pay gone unspent over past five years – @jackfchambershttps://t.co/S3AKtKa6Fe pic.twitter.com/SgK0lpSrFW

— Fianna Fáil (@fiannafailparty) April 14, 2019

Deputy Chambers said the returned money should have been used to fund pay increases.

“This money was allocated for the worst-paid in our public service,” he said.

“Members of the Defence Forces, who represent our country with such dignity and pride.

“To see their pay effectively handed back to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is an absolutely shocking revelation and will only worsen morale.”

"Mass exodus"

He said the money was handed back despite a “mass exodus” form the Irish military due to the pay situation members are faced with.

He said many members of the Defence Forces are dealing with ‘low morale, can’t put food on the table” and are “being driven out of their jobs.”

“It is an outrageous development to see the worst paid in our public service bailing out other departments,” he said.

He said the issue highlight the “degradation of defence policy under Fine Gael and a huge disrespect for those who proudly serve our country.”