asked the Minister for Defence the action he has taken towards the provision of two extra or special Army battalions at Finner Camp and Dundalk.
90.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Additional Army Battalions.
89.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will make a statement on the reported abandonment of his proposal to set up two full-time battalions in the Border area.
91.
asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the establishment of two new battalions for service in the Border area.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 90 and 91 together.
There was never any question of abandoning the proposal to set up two new battalions in the Border area. Arrangements for the establishment of the units have reached an advanced stage.
Will the Minister indicate how he proposes to provide personnel for these two battalions? Will it involve the closing of military posts now in existence, or how does he propose to provide personnel for the new battalions for the Border areas?
It will involve no closing of any military posts. My desire is, as I know the ex-Minister's desire is, that young men will join the Army as an expression of their patriotism. As the ex-Minister also knows, the best time to start a recruiting drive is during the late summer. At the moment I am working on the improvement of the recruiting drive. I will have a very much more advanced and energetic recruiting drive ready for the late summer to try to get the number of people I want. The basic reason for these two battalions is Border security, which is probably one of the most important things this country has to face at present.
Unless I failed to hear the Minister correctly I think he referred to two parties. Is that correct?
No, two battalions.
Full-strength battalions?
Yes.
Could the Minister indicate from what source the personnel for these two battalions will come?
I would hope from the young men of Ireland who are interested in the security of our State and who believe that people should be able to go to bed at night and get up in the morning in perfect security. I hope the young people will join the Army.
Am I right in saying that what the Minister means is that he would hope to recruit sufficient personnel to enable him to send two extra battalions to the Border and he will not be in a position to do that until he has recruited personnel? Is that the position?
That is partly the position. I need to recruit in order to get the numbers. As the Deputy probably knows, the Army is under establishment at the moment. Two new battalions will now be recruited and they will have their establishment of 520 men each. Our target will be to put those 520 men there. We are proceeding with the work of arranging to have billets for them at Dundalk and at Finner with a view to providing the security on the Border which is so necessary.