Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Dec 1990

Vol. 403 No. 4

Written Answers. - Defence Forces.

Michael Bell

Question:

95 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline as at 2 November 1990 the number of man paid days taken up by (1) command, (2) corps, (3) officers, (4) NCO ranks and (5) other ranks for the year 1990 in respect of (a) annual training, (b) special courses and (c) security duties; the man paid days allocated initially and finally approved for the years 1988, 1989 and 1990 for the above category; the allocation approved for 1991; and if he will make a statement on the contrasts reflected in Parliamentary Question No. 14 of 8 March 1990.

Michael Bell

Question:

98 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence the strength of the Second Line Reserve as at 31 October 1990 by rank, command and corps; the number by rank, command and corps who were assigned to the non-effective category from 1 January 1990; and, in the light of the data provided in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 35 of 6 February 1990, whether any change in the length of time a member of the Defence Forces is in this category is warranted.

Minister for Defence (The Taoiseach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 98 together.

The strength of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil and An Slua Muirí as at 31 October 1990 was 15,447. Details in regard to personnel posted to the non-effective list on 1 January 1990 is in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.

The remainder of the information sought by the Deputy is being compiled and I will arrange to have it forwarded to him as soon as possible.

Members of the 2nd Line Reserve by Rank, Command and Corps Posted to the Non-Effective List on 1 January, 1990.

Command	Corps	Company Sergeant	Company Quartermaster Sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Private	Total
East	Signals					5	5
South	Signals				1	4	5
West	Signals					16	16
Total	Signals				1	25	26
East	Supply & Transport					25	25
South	Supply & Transport					7	7
West	Supply & Transport	1	1		2	12	16
Total	Supply & Transport	1	1		2	44	48
East	Medical				1	2	3
South	Medical				3	15	18
West	Medical				Nil	Nil	Nil
Total	Medical				4	17	21
East	Military Police				11	13	24
South	Military Police					8	8
West	Military Police				8	8	16
Total	Military Police				19	29	48
Slua Muirí	No. 1 Group			4	2	41	47
Slua Muirí	No. 2 Group			2	3	15	20
Total				6	5	56	67
East	Infantry			7	28	374	409
South	Infantry					8	8
West	Infantry				2	25	27
Curragh	Infantry			3	8	89	100
Total	Infantry			10	38	496	544
East	Artillery			2		14	16
South	Artillery			2	3	64	69
West	Artillery				1	64	65
Curragh	Artillery			3	1	62	66
Total	Artillery			7	5	204	216
East	Cavalry					15	15
South	Cavalry					13	13
West	Cavalry				3	23	26
Total	Cavalry				3	51	54
East	Engineers				3	28	31
South	Engineers				Nil	Nil	Nil
West	Engineers				1	18	19
Total	Engineers				4	46	50

Michael Bell

Question:

96 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence, in respect of the Second Line Reserve, the strength each month by (a) rank, (b) corps, and (c) total between 30 June 1990 and 31 October 1990 inclusive; the recruitment by corps and command for each month between 30 May 1990 and 31 October 1990; the numbers discharged by category for each month between June 1990 and October 1990; and whether he has satisfied himself that the effective strength of the force is satisfactory.

Minister for Defence (The Taoiseach)

The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy at an early date.

Michael Bell

Question:

97 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence if he will update up to 31 October 1990 the data supplied in respect of acting ranks in the Permanent Defence Force provided in his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 23 on 8 March 1990; if he will make a statement on the military and financial necessity and implications of continuing to have such a significant percentage of the commissioned ranks taking responsibility at higher than their substantive ranks; the number of officers by rank and corps who are in higher acting ranks for a period in excess of 17 months; and his views on whether it should be continued to preserve the seniority of officers for military requirements.

Minister for Defence (The Taoiseach)

The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy at an early date.

Michael Bell

Question:

99 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence, having regard to the fact that the Gleeson report did not review the rates of pay, allowances and gratuities, as was envisaged in his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 22 November 1989, if he will outline when the rates of gratuity, for each category in the second line, were last reviewed; the increase in the consumer price index since then; and whether, in the light of the curtailment in the normal two week period of annual training, the gratuity will be increased in 1991.

Minister for Defence (The Taoiseach)

Members of the Second Line Reserve when undergoing annual training or on security duty receive the same rates of pay and allowances (other than military service allowance) as Permanent Defence Force personnel in equivalent ranks. While the rates of gratuities for members of the Second Line Reserve were last increased with effect from 1 January 1981, the increased rates of pay and allowances awarded to members of the Permanent Defence Force as a result of the recommendations made in the Gleeson report extend to members of the Second Line Reserve as will the benefits of any further increases in those rates which may arise. The increase in the consumer price index since January 1981 is 71 per cent.

Notwithstanding the reduction of the period of annual training for members of the Second Line Reserve which was necessary in recent years, arrangements were made for payment of the full amount of gratuity. These arrangements will continue to apply during 1991 at the existing rates of gratuity.

Michael Bell

Question:

100 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline, having regard to the reply by his predecessor to a parliamentary question on 22 November 1989, the outcome of the examination regarding the amalgamation of the First and Second Line Reserves.

Minister for Defence (The Taoiseach)

The report of the Commission on Remuneration and Conditions of Service in the Defence Forces recommended the review of a considerable number of matters relating to the organisation of the Defence Forces. The position regarding the First and Second Line Reserves will be examined further in the wider context of that review.

Michael Bell

Question:

101 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence if having regard to the reply of his predecessor to Parliamentary Question No. 188 of 4 February 1981, he will outline the number of officers who undertook the FCA course in each year since 1980, the results required and achieved; whether any course will be held in 1991; whether the standard course which commenced in 1989 is to supersede courses prior to that year; and whether those who successfully concluded either course, will have enhanced promotion prospects in An Fórsa.

Minister for Defence (The Taoiseach)

The number of officers of An Fórsa Cosanta Aitiúil who underwent courses at the Military College each year since 1980 is as follows:

1980, 32; 1981, 28; 1982, 20; 1983, nil; 1984, 20; 1985, 17; 1986, 20; 1987, 22; 1988, 21; 1989, 22; 1990, 20.

All participants successfully completed the course in question.

It is not proposed to hold a course for FCA officers in the Military College in 1991.

The only year in which FCA officers underwent the standard officers course was 1989. It is not proposed that that course will supersede the courses held in the years prior to 1989 and in 1990.

The conditions governing the promotion of officers of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil are laid down in Defence Force regulations. In that regard attendance at a course in the Military College is not a requirement for promotion.

Michael Bell

Question:

102 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline in respect of the Second Line Reserve, including An Slua Muirí (1) the number of new centres/sub-unit headquarters opened in the period from October 1989 to October 1990, (2) their location and the sub-units occupying same, (3) whether sub-unit headquarters are located at (a) Shannon town, County Clare (b) Ballymun, Dublin 11 (c) Leixlip, County Kildare (d) Maynooth, County Kildare (e) Greystones, County Wicklow (f) Skerries, County Dublin and (g) Granard, County Longford and (4) the number and location of sub-unit headquarters closed in the period 1 October 1989 to date; and if he will make a statement on the policy initiatives adopted by him in this matter having regard to military funding and the shift in the population to urban areas.

Minister for Defence (The Taoiseach)

The information sought is as follows: (1) four new centres were opened during the period in question; (2) the locations of these centres and the units occupying them are:

Eastern Command — new centre opened at Ballinteer, County Dublin, C. Company, 21 Battalion Headquarters; new centre opened at Ballybrack, County Dublin, B. Company, 21 Battalion Headquarters.

Western Command — new centre opened at Castlepollard, County Westmeath, B. Company, 17 Battalion; new centre opened at Newport, County Mayo, A. Company, 18 Battalion.

(3) Sub-units of A and B Companies, 21 Battalion are located at Greystones, County Wicklow. A sub-unit of B. Company, 17 Infantry Battalion is located at Granard, County Longford. There are no sub-units at the other locations mentioned.

(4) Eight sub-units were closed during the period in question. They were located as follows:

Eastern Command — Arklow, County Wicklow, C. Company, 21 Battalion; Kilmacud, Dublin 14, C. Company, 21 Battalion.

Southern Command — Millstreet, County Cork, D. Company, 13 Battalion; Kilkee, County Clare, D. Company, 22 Battalion; Gerald Griffin Street, Cork, A. Company, 23 Battalion.

Western Command — Culfadda, County Sligo, A. Company, 19 Battalion; Keshcarrigan, County Leitrim, D. Company, 19 Battalion; Castlefin, County Donegal, A. Company, 24 Battalion.

Policy in relation to the location of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil-Slua Muirí units is kept under constant review and is determined having regard to, inter alia, availability of funding and demographic changes.