asked the Minister for Defence if he will give the following details of the new organisation of the Reserve Defence Forces, in particular the FCA, (i) how the new organisation differs from that given in the Irish Defence Force Handbook 1974 (ii) the number and rank of regular personnel in the FCA and (iii) the difference in uniform and insignia between FCA and PDF and the changes that are planned.
Written Answers. - Reserve Defence Forces Organisation.
204.
The organisation outlined in the Irish Defence Force Handbook 1974 incorporated the FCA and PDF in an integrated brigade structure. The new organisation provides for the separate development of the PDF and FCA as combat and local defence forces respectively. The appended statement shows the FCA corps structure as it existed prior to reorganisation and as it exists at present.
The FCA are now organised on a command basis with a special staff in each command. A new directorate of Reserve Forces which has overall responsibility for the development of all the reserve elements, of which the FCA will be the largest component, has been established. This directorate will cater in a special way for the development of the FCA and other reserve elements.
The following is the authorised establishment of PDF personnel employed on duties with FCA units or assigned to Command FCA Staffs:
|
Total |
||||||||||||
|
Total |
Copy |
Total |
All |
|||||||||
|
Cols. |
Lt. Cols. |
Comdts. |
Capts. |
Lieuts. |
Officers. |
Sgts. |
CQMS. |
Sgts. |
Cpls |
NCOs |
Ptes. |
Ranks |
|
3 |
4 |
63 |
86 |
75 |
231 |
7 |
164 |
134 |
220 |
525 |
243 |
999 |
A new uniform has been approved for issue to non-commissioned personnel of the FCA. The uniform will be similar to that issued to members of the Permanent Defence Force except that the berets will be green and the tunic will have maroon epaulettes and an FCA flash. The question of bringing the FCA officers' uniform into line with that of Permanent Defence Force officers is also under consideration.
Following is the statement:
Statement of FCA Corps Structure following re-organisation w.e.f. 3 September, 1979.
|
Corps |
Pre re-organisation Structure |
Present Structure |
|
Infantry |
17 Battalions 2 Companies (of 1st Infantry Battalion) |
18 Battalions (2 Battalions with 6 companies 9 Battalions with 5 companies 5 Battalions with 4 companies 2 Battalions with 3 companies) |
|
Artillery |
3 Regiments 3×2 Batteries (of PDF Regiment) 2 Anti-Aircraft Batteries (1st Anti-Aircraft Regiment) 1 Coastal Defence Battery |
6 Regiments (3 Regiments of 3 Batteries and 3 Regiments of 2 batteries) 3 Anti-Aircraft Batteries |
|
Cavalry |
3 Motor Squadrons |
3 Motor Squadrons |
|
Engineers |
3 Field Companies 3×2 Platoons (of PDF Companies) |
3 Field Companies (4 Platoons each) |
|
Signals |
3 Field Companies |
3 Field Companies |
|
Supply and Transport |
3 Field Companies 3×2 platoons (of PDF Companies) |
3 Field Companies (6 platoons each) |
|
Medical |
6 Field Companies |
6 Field Companies |
|
Military Police |
6 Field Companies |
6 Field Companies |