The Minister to move Vote No. 44. We shall discuss Votes Nos. 44 and 45 together but shall not move No. 45 until the end.
Estimates, 1982. - Vote 44: Defence.
I move:
That a sum not exceeding £204,113,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 1982, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Defence, including certain services administered by that Office; for the pay and expenses of the Defence Forces; and for payment of certain grants-in-aid.
The Defence Estimate for the year ending 31 December 1982, is for a net sum of £204,113,000 of which the sum of £146,813,000, or almost 72 per cent, is provided for pay and allowances. The total provision for 1981 amounted to £171,976,000. This Estimate, therefore, shows a net increase of £32,137,000 on the provision for last year. Increased pay and allowances account for the sum of £4,975,000 and increased provisions for stores and equipment account for £21,215,000. The balance of £5,947,000 is attributable to reduced receipts under Subhead Z — Appropriations in Aid — compared with 1981. The Estimate provides for an average strength of 1,500 officers, 10 cadets and 13,600 other ranks — a total of 15,210 — in the Permanent Defence Force. This Estimate does not provide for increases in pay under the recent agreement on pay in the Public Service. Provision for the estimated cost of these increases of £13,946,000 will be made under the Vote for Remuneration.
This is the first occasion on which I have come before the House to introduce the Estimates for Defence and Army Pensions following my appointment as Minister for Defence. My regard for the Defence Forces will be known to many Members here and, of course, the largest military complex in the country — the Curragh Camp — lies within my constituency, which also houses Dún Mhig Aoidh Barracks in Kildare town and Devoy Barracks in Naas.
I have already visited a number of barracks and posts and it is my intention to visit as many military installations as possible with a view to getting first-hand knowledge of the Forces including their tasks, the conditions under which they serve and their accommodation.
As Deputies are aware very great demands have been made on the officers and men of the Defence Forces for many years past and their duties have been both heavy and varied. As well as security duties, the Defence Forces have given community service in many ways — notably in search and rescue missions made by Air Corps aircraft and in the provision and maintenance of the air ambulance service conveying seriously injured persons to the hospitals most suited to their needs.
In the blizzard conditions earlier this year, the Defence Forces provided the following services: (i) Air ambulance missions; (ii) Evacuation of civilians from snowbound areas; (iii) Delivery of food and medicines by air to isolated homes and communities; (iv) Back-up ambulance service with four-wheel-drive trucks; (v) Delivery of essential commodities such as oxygen and fuel to hospitals; (vi) Delivery of fodder to stranded livestock, and (vii) Road and street clearance.
While the primary role of the Defence Forces is the defence of the State against external aggression, Deputies will be aware that over the past 13 years the Army have been heavily committed to aiding the civil power, which means, in effect, the rendering of assistance, when requested, to the Garda Síochána who have the primary responsibility for the maintenance or restoration of the public peace and for internal security. This has involved the Defence Forces in patrolling, with the Garda, in the road network along the Border area; in the provision of military assistance at joint Garda/Army checkpoints; in the provision of escorts for explosives and blasting operations and in the provision of specialist personnel to deal with requests for bomb disposal.
In addition, vital non-military installations have the protection of military guards or patrols, whilst the Defence Forces also supply military parties to escort civilian prisoners, cash in transit and to help in searches for arms or explosives.
Deputies will, I am sure, join with me in congratulating all members of the forces including the First Line Reserve, FCA and Slua Muirí for the manner in which they have carried out their many tasks during the past year.
The welfare, including pay and conditions of service, of the Defence Forces is the special care of Government. It will be our constant concern that these conditions should adequately compensate those personnel who are bearing the brunt of the onerous responsibilities assigned to the Defence Forces. All allowances, including those payable for duties of a security nature, are kept under review to ensure their adequacy.
The terms of the first and second phases of the agreement on pay in the public service have been applied to the pay of all Defence Forces' personnel. The first phase provided for an increase of 2 per cent, subject to a minimum of £4 per week, from 1 December 1981, while the increase under the second phase was 6 per cent from 1 March. The third phase of the agreement will be due from 1 October next.
The pay of a recruit is now £96.17 a week rising after about 14 weeks' basic training to £111.80. On advancement to private three star, gross pay rises to £115.37 while, after three years' service, the gross pay of a private is over £125. The current rate of security duty allowance is £6.50 per day on which such duty is performed. There is provision for an enhanced payment of £13 for duties undertaken on a Sunday or Army holiday. The rates of allowance for service in the Border area are £15.40 a week for officers and £13.30 a week for men.
The strength of the Permanent Defence Force is almost 15,000 — its highest level since the demobilisation in 1946 following the Emergency. This welcome development has eased considerably the burden of duties which lay heavily on the men when the strength of the force was lower.
Because of this buoyancy in Permanent Defence Force strengths the necessity for the continued employment of FCA personnel on full-time security duties has been under review by my Department for some time. Deputies will appreciate that the level of security duties to be undertaken and the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at any given time have a bearing on the extent to which the full-time employment of FCA personnel is necessary. Because of the reduced requirement for the full-time services of FCA personnel additional members have not been called out on security duties for some time past and those who are released at their own request from such duties are not being replaced. While this matter will, of necessity, be kept under review, I wish to emphasise that at present there are no proposals to release personnel currently employed on these duties other than at their own request. Indeed, the contribution of FCA members to the various tasks on which the Defence Forces have been engaged has been invaluable in recent years.
As regards the recruitment of women into the Permanent Defence Force six cadetships were awarded to female personnel from the annual competition for cadetships held last year. To date 11 female cadets have been commissioned and in addition three female officers have been appointed to fill vacancies in the Medical Corps.
A total of 38 women who were enlisted for general service in June 1981 qualified as three star privates in October and were posted to appointments such as clerks, drivers and military police in the four commands. Six women have been promoted to the rank of corporal in the Military Police Corps and a further three who are now undergoing the basic Military Police course will also be promoted on satisfactory completion of the course and the usual period of probation.
As Deputies will be aware, the Permanent Defence Force make a significant contribution to the cause of international peace by participation in various United Nations forces. Ireland's record of military support of United Nations peacekeeping operations goes back to 1958 when Irish officers first took up duty as observers in Lebanon. We now have military personnel serving in three peacekeeping missions, which are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation in the Middle East (UNTSO) and the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). The strength of the contingent which has recently taken up duty in Lebanon is about 720 all ranks comprising the 51st Infantry Battalion, a Camp Command at UNIFIL headquarters and some personnel filling staff appointments at UNIFIL headquarters. The strength of 720 all ranks represents an increase of 70 men on the previous contingent. This increase, as Deputies are probably aware, was provided at the request of the United Nations. We can be very proud of the significant contribution that the Irish contingent is making, often in difficult and hazardous circumstances, to the cause of peace in Lebanon.
Tragically, two Irish soldiers died during the past year or so while in service with the United Nations in Lebanon. One died as a result of an accident and the other was killed at an observation post in April 1981 in a shooting incident with an unknown party of armed men. A further soldier at the observation post has been missing since the incident and despite the best efforts of the United Nations he has not been located. The search for him is continuing under the direction of the force commander.
At present an Irish officer, Lieutenant-General William Callaghan, is the Force Commander of UNIFIL. This top military appointment was a compliment to the officer himself who has had long experience in United Nations service and was also an indication of the high standing of the Irish Defence Forces on United Nations missions.
Twenty-one Irish officers are serving with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation in the Middle East while two officers and four non-commissioned officers are serving in staff appointments with the United Nations Force in Cyprus. They are doing praiseworthy work in the cause of international peace and are a credit to their country.
The many exacting demands on the Defence Forces render it imperative that personnel are trained to a high degree of efficiency. A total of 81 officers are presently undergoing various full-time courses at third level educational institutions. The practice of assigning officers to such courses will be continued in 1982 to meet the requirements of the Defence Forces.
Arrangements have been made to train executive branch cadets of the Naval Service in Ireland in future. Heretofore such cadets have had to be assigned to courses abroad. This training will be undertaken initially at the Cadet School in the Curragh but mainly at the naval base and on board Naval Service vessels. In addition it is planned to avail of certain specialist training at the Cork Regional Technical College.
In 1978 a cadet scheme was introduced for the purpose of providing the Naval Service with qualified marine engineer officers. Nine officers have been commissioned under the scheme to date and four of these will be fully qualified as marine engineers on completion of a course of training abroad later this year. The remaining five officers will qualify in 1983. In addition a further eight cadets appointed under the scheme in 1980 and 1981 are undergoing training; two of these will be commissioned this year and six in 1983.
Members of the Permanent Defence Force who, in their own time, may attend approved second level and third level courses of education — for example intermediate and leaving certificate and degree courses — may be refunded and tuition and examination fees involved and, in certain circumstances, travelling expenses.
Competitions for the award of apprenticeships in the Army, where there are 60 vacancies, and in the Air Corps, where there are 50 vacancies, are in progress at present. The successful candidates will commence training in September 1982.
As scheme exists whereby service personnel are registered with AnCO as apprentices in various trades such as fitter, motor mechanic, sheet metal worker, bricklayer, plasterer and painter-decorator. These personnel attend either full-time off-the-job training courses, day-release courses or block-release courses.
In order that the level of knowledge and expertise may be kept in line with modern developments in other armies, and to provide for the efficient maintenance and operation of many sophisticated equipments in use in the Defence Forces, it is the practice to assign a number of personnel to courses of training in foreign military and civil establishments. It is anticipated that such courses will be undertaken in Britain, Holland, France and the United States during 1982.
A potential officers course for selected non-commissioned personnel commenced at the Infantry School, Military College, last October. Twenty-five non-commissioned officers drawn from each of the four commands and from the Air Corps and Naval Service were selected to undergo the course. The course is of 12 months duration and the successful participants will be commissioned as officers later this year. This course is one of the most heart-warming happenings in the Defence Forces and I am sure it will give as much personal satisfaction to the officers concerned as it gives to us.
In addition three non-commissioned officers have been appointed to commissioned rank in the last year to fill specialist and technical appointments, two in the Naval Service and one in the Army School of Music.
Competitions for the award of cadetships in the Army and in the executive branches of the Naval Service were conducted as usual in 1981.
The numbers of cadetships awarded as a result of these competitions are as follows: Army, 52 including 6 women; Naval Service Executive Branch, 6; Naval Service Engineering Branch, 6; The successful candidates commenced training in November 1981.
A new cadetship scheme is proposed leading to the appointment of riding officers in the Army Equitation School. It is hoped to advertise the first competition under this scheme in the near future.
Further competitions for Army, Air Corps and Naval Service cadetships will be held this year. It is expected that the competition will be advertised in the near future.
I have mentioned the recruitment of suitable personnel at cadet and apprentice levels who will be trained to fill appointments in the Naval Service. Apart from these, persons who already have the necessary qualifications are recruited where necessary. In this regard competitions are held from time to time for engineer officers and executive branch officers. A competition for engine room artificers, electrical artificers and shipwrights is at present in progress.
With the expansion of the Naval Service in recent years the need has arisen to employ an increased number of civilians to look after the maintenance of the additional vessels purchased. Difficulty had been experienced in recruiting suitable craftsmen with the special skills required in the naval dockyard. In order to overcome this and to provide job opportunities for school leavers the Department introduced a civilian apprenticeship scheme under the auspices of AnCO. To date 15 apprenticeships have been awarded. This scheme will help keep alive and develop the traditional dockyard skills in the Cork Harbour area.
The measures being taken will ensure that sufficient numbers of personnel will be available to permit the efficient operation of the expanding Naval Service.
For some years past there has been a continuing and sustained improvement in the equipment and transport of the Defence Forces. It is my intention that this trend should continue. This year the provision for defensive equipment is £10,750,000. Purchases include normal maintenance and replacement items and supplies of ammunition and also certain new up-to-date equipments which will enhance the capability of the Defence Forces.
Five armoured personnel carriers have been manufactured and supplied by Adtec Teoranta, Gibbstown, Co. Meath and a contract for five further personnel carriers was placed with the firm in June 1981. These will incorporate certain modifications on the earlier design in the light of developments by the firm and of current military requirements. A number of light tanks including four recently delivered are now held by the Defence Forces.
The provision for mechanical transport is £3,180,000. A steady programme of renewal of various types of vehicles — trucks, landrovers, station wagons, motorcycles, saloon cars, tipper trucks — has improved the transport situation considerably in recent years. This year's Estimate provides for the purchase of further quantities of a variety of vehicles.
Under subhead O.2 — Aircraft — provision is made for down-payments in respect of replacements for Alouette helicopters. In addition, provision is made for the purchase and installation of precision approach radar at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, to enable landings to be made there in conditions of poor visibility. This is part of a programme to modernise the airport facilities at Baldonnel.
The Naval Service is an integral part of the Defence Forces and in recent times a large expansion of the fleet and of the manpower of the service has been necessary.
The new vessels provided, which were constructed in this country, were designed for all-weather fishery protection. With the resources at their disposal our naval personnel are doing a very good job in protecting the much enlarged exclusive fisheries area which the State has enjoyed since 1 January 1977.
The capacity of the Naval Service to fulfil their role will be enhanced by the acquisition of a further fishery patrol vessel. This vessel which is new in concept and design will be constructed by Verolme Cork Dockyard with whom the contract was placed in April 1982. The vessel will be delivered in 1984. Provision of £9 million is made for this vessel in 1982 to meet the progress payments arising during the year.
I should like to mention also that this new vessel will be capable of carrying and operating a helicopter. In this connection it is proposed to purchase two twin-engined ship-borne helicopters which are capable of being stowed aboard the vessel. A sum of £1 million is being provided this year as a down-payment on these helicopters. I take this opportunity to refer also to the valuable assistance being rendered by the Air Corps in the protection of our fisheries. This is one of their many tasks and represents an important contribution to the protection service.
Provision is also made for the purchase of a small launch, a down-payment on a harbour passenger vessel and modifications of the patent slipway in the Naval Base, Haulbowline. This slipway is used to enable work on the underwater portion of small vessels to be undertaken by the Naval Service.
Given the many and increased tasks of the various arms of the Defence Forces it is essential that they be provided with the necessary supplies and equipment. The stores subheads of the Estimate reflect this need and it is the intention of the Government to ensure that, within the available resources, the stores and equipment essential for the proper development of the forces will be made available.
A high priority will continue to be given to improving accommodation and facilities for the Defence Forces. It is the intention to continue to replace unsuitable married quarters for non-commissioned officers and privates by modern housing and £575,000 is included this year for new quarters. A scheme of 12 flats at Cathal Brugha Barracks, the first phase in the replacement of old married quarters at that barracks, is well under way. It is hoped to commence work this year on a further 37 houses at the Curragh Camp and planning is in hand also for the erection of new married quarters at Cathal Brugha Barracks and Collins Barracks, Cork.
As regards the living accommodation of the single soldier a new billet building for 90 female soldiers has recently been completed at Ceannt Barracks, Curragh Camp, and a billet for 70 naval personnel has been completed at Haulbowline. In other locations, existing billets continue to be improved, where practicable, by dividing large rooms into cubicles, the provision of individual bedhead lighting, installation of central heating and improvements to sanitary and ablution facilities.
Extensive building works are planned for Casement Aerodrome to cater for the increased needs of the Air Corps. Work is well advanced on an extension to the apprentices' hostel and it is anticipated that a contract for a new technical stores will be placed this year. As with the Air Corps, the continuing development of the Naval Service will require extensive additional buildings and facilities. Space for any future building at Haulbowline is, however, very limited. Accordingly, a feasibility study was commissioned on the linking of Haulbowline and Spike Island by way of a new bridge. The consultants' report has been received and site investigations are now proceeding as a necessary preliminary to completion of a detailed design.
Building works in progress elsewhere include a cookhouse and dining hall at Finner Camp, a garage for motor transport at the apprentice school, Devoy Barracks Naas, and a new FCA headquarters at Portlaoise. Work is expected to commence on a new sports pavilion in the Phoenix Park, Dublin and on the modernisation of the swimming pool at the Curragh Camp. A number of other works projects are at the planning stage and will be advanced as quickly as possible.
Le tamall anuas tá ranganna Gaeilge ar siúl im Roinn-se agus in Aonaid éagsúla sna Fórsaí Cosanta. Is aoibhinn dom an scéal seo agus tá sé ar intinn agam go leanfar ar gach bealach oiriúnach chun úsáid na Gaeilge a fhorbairt agus a leathnú.
Mar is eol dibh úsáidtear an Ghaeilge mar ghnáth mhodh chumarsáide sa chéad Cathlán Coisithe i nGaillimh. Le déanaí tá feabhas mór tagaithe ar líon na bhfear san aonad seo. Freisin úsáidtear an Ghaeilge go foirleathan sa Choláiste Míleata agus úsáideann na Fórsaí leis na Náisiúin Aontaithe mór-chuid Ghaeilge in a gcuid gnó.
Tá ilchineál cluichí agus áiseanna spóirt ar fáil agus cuireadh feabhas mór le feistis spóirt sna Fórsaí le blianta beaga anuas. Bíonn comórtais spóirt ar siúl ar leibhéal aonaid agus ceannasaíochta. I 1981 chuaigh fóirne Airm isteach ar chomórtais sa Sudan, sa tSualainn agus san Éigipt agus tá sé beartaithe go mbeidh fóirne in iomaíocht i gcomórtais thar lear i 1982 freisin.
Cúis bhróid dúinn an tslí in ar éirigh le gach duine de lucht luth-chleasanna na bhFórsaí. Níor bheag an mhiste dom beirt díobh san a lú — An Captaen Ciarán Mac Gearailt a bhí mar chaptaen ar fhoireann rugby na hEireann agus an Ceannaire Gerry Loftus, Super-Star na hÉireann i mbliana — daoine iad a thuill onóir dá dtír agus dos na Fórsaí.
The Equitation School had a very successful year in 1981. Army riders and horses competed in 18 international shows. They won 12 first places, 13 second places, 17 third and 16 fourth places with a total of 122 places in international shows. In addition, 45 provincial horse shows and gymkhanas were attended at home. The total prize money won in 1981 was £43,000. The world showjumping championships are being held in Dublin next month and I am hopeful that Army riders and horses will compete successfully in these championships.
As regards the role and responsibilities of the Civil Defence organisation, this body — which is maintained at a very modest cost — is comprised largely of volunteer personnel who give of their own time and energies to further the objectives of Civil Defence. Essentially these objectives are to generate and maintain an acceptable degree of protection and preparedness for the population at large in the broader context of national defence. The development of Civil Defence to what it is today is due in large measure to the commitment and dedication of the volunteers and to the interest and support of the local authorities who are responsible for the organisation of the service at local level. While Civil Defence activities are not such as to attract media headlines in the normal course of events, in times of emergency and crisis the volunteers perform with outstanding dedication and selflessness in the alleviation of distress. Indeed, they did so quite recently, during the blizzard conditions last January, when they helped to meet the needs of people in difficulty in severely affected areas.
Provision is made in subhead G for a net sum of £1.5 million for Civil Defence in 1982. Amongst other things the provision will permit a modest advance in one area which needs urgent attention, namely, the commencement of a programme to replace stocks of obsolete radiation monitoring equipment. As Civil Defence is the only organisation with a capability to warn and protect the population in the event of a radioactive fallout situation, whether caused by war or accidentally in peacetime, the desirability of this programme is self-evident.
Civil Defence continues to enjoy the active and whole-hearted co-operation of the Irish Red Cross Society, the Order of Malta and the St. John Ambulance Brigade. I also express my appreciation of the contributions these voluntary aid societies have made and continue to make.
The sail training vessel Asgard II which was commissioned in March 1981 completed a full programme of cruises for the 1981 season despite encountering a number of teething troubles which were inevitable with a new ship. The vessel covered a total of 7,355 miles and visited many different ports and harbours in Ireland and abroad — 249 adults, 150 boys and 58 girls went to sea on the vessel. There was a waiting list for cruises during the summer months. The highlight of the season was the participation of Asgard II in her first international tall ships race organised by the Sail Training Association in July last. The race was from Great Yarmouth to Ostend. Asgard II was the winner in her class and was also declared the overall winner. This was a tremendous achievement in the vessel's first season and is a great tribute to her builders, Messrs. John Tyrrell and Sons Ltd. of Arklow, and to the dedication and commitment of her crew. The young people on board played their full part in securing this splendid victory. Asgard II is carrying out another full programme of cruises this year and will be competing in an international race of sail training vessels from Vigo in Northern Spain to Southampton in August next.
In the short period since I have assumed responsibility for the Department of Defence I have come to realise that very important changes and improvements have been achieved in the Defence Forces over the past decade. While the developments affecting all aspects of the forces — manpower, including the introduction of women to military life, equipment, transport, aircraft, Naval Service vessels and accommodation — have been significant, much remains to be done. I intend to establish what the priorities should now be. It is clear that accommodation presents a major task and this is to be expected considering that many of the barracks and posts are very old. I would welcome the views of the House on all things impinging on the Defence Forces and for my part I will be prepared to give full and detailed consideration to any views expressed when it comes to formulating plans in the future.
I turn now to the Army Pensions Estimate which for the year ending 31 December 1982 is for a net sum of £31,111,000. The net figure for the year ended 31 December 1981, including a Supplementary Estimate of £1,090,000, was £26,690,000. The net increase for 1982 is therefore £4,421,000.
The increase in the Estimate arises mainly from increases in pensions granted during 1981. Most of these increases were effective from 1 July 1981 and applied to the latter half of that year. They apply, of course, to the full year 1982. The Estimate does not, however, reflect increases arising from the current agreement on pay in the public service, nor does it include the cost of the further benefits in respect of veterans of the War of Independence announced in the 1982 Budget Statement. The total cost of these additions, which is estimated at £1,984,000 will be provided for in the global Vote for Remuneration.
The main increases in the Estimate are: £1,332,000 in subhead C - allowances and gratuities to dependants, etc; £250,000 in subhead D - military service pensions; £2,310,000 in subhead E.1 - Defence Forces (Pensions) Schemes; £108,000 in subhead G - special allowances; £249,200 in Subhead L - grants in respect of the provision of free travel, free electricity, free television and free telephone rental allowance for certain veterans of the War of Independence, etc.
The larger increases in terms of cost occur in subhead C - allowances and gratuities to dependents, etc., and in subhead E.1 - Defence Forces (Pensions) Schemes. In both of these subheads, the numbers of persons involved are rising. In the case of subhead C there is an increase in the number of widows of veterans of the War of Independence who are in receipt of allowances and in the case of subhead E.1 there is an increase in the number of ex-members of the Defence Forces of retired pay and on pension. There is also a substantial increase in subhead L - grants in respect of the provision of free travel, free electricity, free television and free telephone rental allowance for certain veterans of the War of Independence, and so on. This reflects the rising costs to my Department of these concessions.
As regards subheads D and G, the number of military service pensioners on pay is now somewhat less than 2,200 and there are about 4,600 veterans in receipt of special allowances, representing a fall of about 350 and 600, respectively, in numbers over the past 12 months. Despite the fall in numbers, however, the provisions under both subheads show rises which reflect the increases granted in these pensions and allowances.
I commend both Estimates to the favourable consideration of the House. If Deputies require more information on any point I shall be glad to supply it when replying to the debate.
I would like, at the outset, to avail of the opportunity of congratulating the Minister on his appointment as Minister for Defence and wish him every success in his term of Office, whether it be long or short. I sincerely hope that some items mentioned in his Estimate speech today will be handled with the vigour, determination and dedication necessary for a Minister in Government. On behalf of my party and myself I pay tribute to the Defence Forces at home and abroad. Firstly, I pay tribute to those playing an international role, the most important, most difficult, most dangerous, and most hazardous task with which they are confronted in maintaining world peace. Very often the role which they have played in this important sphere is not altogether appreciated by Governments and the public as a whole. We have recently seen tragedies in the Lebanon and elsewhere and watched the contribution our forces have made towards keeping world powers apart and maintaining world peace. This is a very noble cause and no words of mine would be sufficient adequately to pay tribute to them in that very important role.
I refer equally to our forces at home, particularly in regard to recent years. The tasks which they have been asked to perform have been very far beyond the call of duty. Over the past few years they have been described in this House as binmen, postmen and bank men. They have ensured the protection of the security of the State.
There is a feeling abroad and amongst politicians that the Minister of Defence, no matter who he may be, occupies the last post in the Cabinet before one becomes redundant, or passes on to the backbenches. That was particularly headlined in the media when the Minister's predecessor and his party colleagues were appointed. I say, not because I have been Defence spokesman for some time, that it is a very important post, a very important Ministry. For that reason, it should be so treated.
During my term as spokesman for Defence for the Fine Gael Party I had reason to thank the then Minister and officials in the Department for the great co-operation and courtesy extended to me in that time, for any required assistance given and replies received in great detail to any questions which I put down. I have not troubled the Department that much over the last few months because I had a responsibility elsewhere.
It is only right to claim that the previous Government took a part in the provision of the framework for this Estimate. It is very interesting to note that in the Estimate for 1980, as the Minister has mentioned, the total was £144 million. In 1981 the Estimate produced by Fianna Fáil under the January budget was completely underestimated and the Coalition Government had to introduce a Supplementary Estimate later in the year, to the tune of £28 million. As is known now, none of the Estimates was adequately provided for in that January budget, particularly in relation to Defence where there was a shortfall of £28 million for that year. The details were very adequately described by the then Minister for Defence, Mr. Tully, who is no longer a Member of this House. The present Estimate of £204 million means a 19 per cent increase over that Estimate, including the Supplementary Estimate which had to be introduced, as I have said. This is an improvement and makes proper, honest and adequate provision for the Estimates for the current year. I welcome this improved Estimate and commend it to the House. It is, of course, necessary to make the financial resources available to this Department, but that is not the only factor. The Minister must have determination and there must be a demand from within his Government for a share for his Department of the available capital, to ensure that the problems which he has mentioned are tackled and that there will be no let-up until such time as those problems are resolved.
In following the Minister's speech line by line, I could say that I have heard it all before from Ministers introducing Estimates and replying to questions in this House. Reading that Estimate in toto, one could say that we are on the right road. However, I would refer the Minister back to 1979, when a Minister in his Department, Deputy Molloy, introduced an Estimate here. He spoke about accommodation and married quarters in some of our military barracks and said he was going to demolish all the houses that were there and start immediately, with particular reference to Cathal Brugha barracks, to provide proper housing accommodation. To date not even a sod has been turned.
Debate adjourned.