asked the Minister for Defence if there are problems regarding recruitment in the Curragh Command area in view of the fact that the strength of units in the 6th Brigade are well below their establishment; if he has investigated this; and if the arduous duties undertaken by these units, such as acting as prison guards and escorts, and the grave shortage of good quality housing, are the main reasons for these problems.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Curragh Command Recruitment.
24.
The position relating to manpower in units in the 6th Brigade has been investigated by my Department and certain measures have been taken which should improve the strength position generally. In addition, steps have been taken to lessen the incidence of certain duties hitherto performed by units of this brigade. A special review of allowances in respect of duties of a security nature is nearing completion and details of the increases involved will be announced shortly.
It is planned to provide billets as part of the new Ceannt Barracks, the building of which has commenced.
Will the Minister not accept that the response to the recruitment campaign in the Curragh was very poor?
Prior to last year that was the situation but last year there was an appreciable increase in recruitment.
Will the Minister not accept that shortage of housing accommodation and long hours on duty are factors in this situation? Further, is he aware that some members of the Defence Forces are obliged to do 24 hours duty one day per week and that may be a militating factor against the recruitment campaign?
As the Deputy has said, that has been the situation over a period because of the extra security duties. This has been changed now. The Curragh Command were responsible for the security duties at Portlaoise all the time but this has now been spread throughout the Army as a whole.
A final supplementary, now.
What is the Minister's attitude to the number of overholders who are in occupation in the Curragh and has he any plans to rehouse them? Further, would he agree with his predecessor, not the present Ceann Comhairle, that Army personnel are not getting a fair crack of the whip when it comes to local authorities housing them?
No, I would not agree with that at all. I visited the camp last Thursday for the whole day. I did not know if the problem existed and I wanted to find out about it. Kildare County Council are very co-operative with regard to this situation.
The Minister's predecessor would not have been satisfied.
There are grounds in regard to the first part of the Deputy's question about overholders. That is a problem with regard to Army housing, of course. Again, the local authority try to deal with this matter as expeditiously as possible.
Would the Minister have a word with his colleague, the Minister for the Environment, with a view to making more accommodation available?
I certainly shall. I made representations on the Army's behalf when I was Minister for the Environment.
Not very successfully.
Could I ask about the recruitment situation? The Minister said it had improved last year and he then corrected himself to say 1979. Could I ask the Minister whether the increased recruitment which he said occurred in 1979 was maintained last year, or whether there was another dip last year?
I am sorry, that was an error. I should have said 1980 as against 1979.