asked the Minister for Defence (a) if he will list the centre of each FCA company, battery, squadron etc., in a form similar to that given in the Defence Force Handbook, 1974; (b) if any centres have been closed or training facilities centralised because of security reasons; if so, if this will affect a Local Defence Force such as the FCA; (c) the headquarters of each FCA battalion or other such unit; (d) if he will clarify the position of FCA members who join the PDF and if he will state the advantages they have over those who volunteer for full time service; and if he will explain the position in the matter; (e) the number or estimated percentage of FCA officers on full time annual training or who report for full time training; and (f) the number or the percentage of members to whom the new pattern uniform has been made available and the criteria used for its issue.
Written Answers. - FCA Statistics.
(a) The 18 FCA Infantry Battalions are located as follows:
7th Battalion. A Company, Dublin City (1); B Company, North Co. Dublin; C Company, Dublin City (2) and North East Kildare: D Company, South Meath; E Company, North Meath.
8th Battalion. A Company, North Louth: B Company, South Louth; C Company, Monaghan: D Company, Mid Cavan: E Company, East Cavan.
9th Battalion. A Company, Kilkenny; B Company, Callan: C Company, Castlecomer: D Company, Waterford; E Company, Portlaoise: F Company. Abbeyleix.
10th Battalion. A Company, Wexford; B Company, New Ross: C Company. North Wexford: D Company, Carlow; E Company, Muinebeag.
11th Battalion. A Company, Bandon: B Company, Bantry: C Company, Clonakilty: D Company, Macroom: E Company, Skibbereen.
13th Battalion. A Company, Fermoy: B Company, Cahir: C Company, Dungarvan: D Company, Kanturk: E Company, Mallow.
14th Battalion. A Company, Nenagh: B Company, Adare: C Company, East Limerick: D Company, Newcastle West: E Company, Tipperary.
15th Battalion. A Company, Tralee: B Company, Cahirciveen: C Company, Dingle: D Company, Killarney: E Company, Killorglin: F Company, Listowel.
16th Battalion. A Company, Athlone; B Company, Ballinasloe: C Company, Tullamore; D Company, Roscommon.
17th Battalion. A Company, Longford; B Company, Granard; C Company. Strokestown; D Company, West Cavan; E Company, Mohill.
18th Battalion. A Company, Westport; B Company, Tireragh: C Company, Swinford: D Company, Ballina.
19th Battalion. A Company, Boyle; B Company, Carrick-on-Shannon; C Company, Ballymote; D Company, Manorhamilton; E Company, Castlerea.
20th Battalion. All companies are in and of Dublin City. D is the Pearse Company (an Piarsach), for student volunteers and E is Complacht na bhFian. Irish speaking.
21st Battalion. A Company, North Wicklow: B Company, South Co. Dublin; C Company, South Wicklow.
22nd Battalion. A Company, Ennis; B Company, Ennistymon; C Company, Killaloe; D Company, Kilrush.
23rd Battalion. A and B Companies, Cork City; C Company, Middleton.
24th Battalion. A Company, LetterKenny; B Company, South Donegal; C Company, Inishowen; D Company, North Donegal.
25th Battalion. A Company, Iar Chonnacht; B Company, Connemara; C Company, Athenry; D Company, Loughrea.
The six FCA Field Artillery Regiments are located as follows:
3rd Field Artillery Regiment. 9th Battery, Templemore; 12th Battery, Ely; 16th Battery, Thurles.
5th Field Artillery Regiment. 4th Battery, Galway City; 7th Battery, Gort; 13th Battery, Tuam.
6th Field Artillery Regiment. 5th Battery, South Kildare; 6th Battery, North Kildare: 11th Battery, Edenderry.
7th Field Artillery Regiment. 14th Battery, Dublin City; 19th Battery, Dublin City;
8th Field Artillery Regiment. 2nd Battery, Cork City; 21st Battery, Cork City.
9th Field Artillery Regiment. 15th Battery, Mullingar; 20th Battery, Mullingar.
2nd Anti-Aircraft Battery. Dublin City.
3rd Anti-Aircraft Battery. Limerick.
4th Anti-Aircraft Battery. Spike Island.
The three FCA Field Engineer Companies are located as follows:
3rd Field Engineer Company. Limerick City.
5th Field Engineer Company, Galway City.
11th Field Engineer Company, Dublin City.
The three FCA Field Signal Companies are located as follows:
3rd Field Signal Company, Limerick City.
5th Field Signal Company. Sligo.
11th Field Signal Company. Dublin City.
The three FCA Field Supply and Transport Companies are located as follows:
3rd Field Supply & Transport Company. Limerick.
5th Field Supply & Transport Company, Galway City.
11th Field Supply & Transport Company, Dublin City.
The six FCA Field Medical Companies are located as follows.
1st Field Medical Company. Cork City and County.
2nd Field Medical Company. Dublin City.
3rd Field Medical Company. Limerick (with elements at Ennis, Palleskenry and Clonmel).
4th Field Medical Company. Athlone.
5th Field Medical Company. Galway.
11th Field Medical Company. Dublin City.
The three FCA Motor Squadrons are located as follows:
3rd Motor Squadron, Clonmel.
5th Motor Squadron. Castlebar.
11th Motor Squadron. Dublin City.
The six FCA Field Military Police Companies are located as follows:
1st Field Military Police Company. Cork City (with elements at Macroom and Mallow)
2nd Field Military Police Company. Dublin City.
3rd Field Military Police Company. Limerick City (with elements at Ennis and Tralee).
4th Field Military Police Company. Athlone.
5th Field Military Police Company. Galway.
6th Field Military Police Company. Dublin City.
(b) No centre has been closed or training centralised because of security reasons.
(c) The Headquarters of the FCA units referred at (a) above are as follows:
7th Infantry Battalion, Dublin City; 8th Infantry Battalion, Gormanstown Camp; 9th Infantry Battalion, Kilkenny; 10th Infantry Battalion, Wexford; 11th Infantry Battalion, Bandon; 13th Infantry Battalion, Fermoy; 14th Infantry Battalion, Limerick; 15th Infantry Battalion, Tralee; 16th Infantry Battalion, Athlone; 17th Infantry Battalion, Longford; 18th Infantry Battalion, Castlebar; 19th Infantry Battalion, Boyle; 20th Infantry Battalion, Dublin City; 21st Infantry Battalion, Bray; 22nd Infantry Battalion, Ennis; 23rd Infantry Battalion, Cork City; 24th Infantry Battalion, Letterkenny; 25th Infantry Battalion, Galway.
3rd Field Artillery Regiment, Templemore; 5th Field Artillery Regiment, Galway City; 6th Field Artillery Regiment, Kildare; 7th Field Artillery Regiment, Dublin City; 8th Field Artillery Regiment, Ballincollig; 9th Field Artillery Regiment, Mullingar.
The Headquarters of each Cavalry Motor Squadron, Field Engineer Company, Field Signal Company, Field Supply & Transport Company, Field Medical Company and Field Military Police Company is located as shown in section (a) above.
(d) Any person who has completed not less than three years' satisfactory service on the effective strength of the FCA may be enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force up to 35 years of age instead of the normal 32 years.
Members of the Permanent Defence Force qualify for payment of military service allowance. Members of the FCA on full-time security duties do not. In this regard the Deputy's attention is invited to the reply to Question No. 40 of 15 May 1980.
The service of members of the Permanent Defence Force is reckonable for pension and gratuity purposes under the Defence Forces (Pensions) Schemes. Members of the FCA are not eligible for awards under these schemes.
(e) It is estimated that 83 per cent of FCA officers attend full time annual training. In 1980 out of an effective strength of 700 officers 584 attended for full time annual training.
(f) Approval has been granted for the wearing of the officers new pattern uniform. Allowances are paid to cover the cost of the uniform, the provision of which is a matter for each individual officer. An initial issue of 300 other ranks new pattern uniform has been made to senior NCOs and some sergeants of the FCA who had become entitled to a replacement uniform. It is proposed from now on to issue all other ranks personnel with the new pattern uniform provided they are entitled to a fresh issue of uniform and in respect of whom suitable sizes in the existing uniform are not available.