Army troops win battle to have uniforms dry cleaned

Around 7,500 enlisted members of the Defence Forces are to be reimbursed a collective €2.25m following a long-running battle to have the dry-cleaning of their uniforms recognised as a legitimate expense.

The Irish Examiner reports that from now on enlisted personnel in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service will be reimbursed €150 every year for the cost of cleaning their uniforms for ceremonial duties after a successful case was brought to the Revenue Commissioners. PDforra, which represents the enlisted men and women, lodged the case in December 2014.

PDforra claimed its members were spending nearly €3m in total a year on dry-cleaning, shoe polish, and other expenses necessary for their work, which was coming out of their own pockets. They argued these were legitimate expenses as under military regulations, Defence Forces personnel are required to have their uniforms in pristine condition. Having a dirty uniform on parade would lead to a caution or even a fine.