Written Answers - Second Line Reserve Training.
Michael Bell
Question:
225
Mr. Bell
asked the
Minister for Defence
the entitlement of a member of the second line reserve to undertake annual paid training as regards hours attended and Defence Force regulations; the number of members of the reserve who were unable last year to undertake paid annual training due to insufficiency of financial resources available to the Defence Forces; whether such members who do not attend a course of paid training may receive their annual training bounty; and, if so, whether such has been paid in each of the years 1990 to 1994, the amount so paid and whether such a situation will occur this year.
[3615/95]
Michael Bell
Question:
234
Mr. Bell
asked the
Minister for Defence
when the two week camp for the second line reserve was terminated; the reason for this; whether an evaluation has been undertaken by the directors of reserve forces or training into the consequences of such cut-backs since then; if so, the recommendations to improve matters; whether he or his Department has given any thought to bringing back the two week camp; the additional cost of a further weeks camp divided between rations, pay and other costs; the cost of the current one week camp; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3749/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 234 together.
Defence Force regulations provide that members of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil and An Slua Muirí may, with their own consent, be required to attend in each training year for a course of training for a continuous period of not less than seven days and not more than 21 days in the case of the FCA, and not more than 14 days in the case of An Slua Muirí, at such times and places as the relevant military authorities may determine. While members who wish to attend for such training are facilitated as far as possible many, due to business or other commitments, are unable to make themselves available.
Since 1983, it has been found necessary, as part of the Government's programme for achieving reductions in the level of public expenditure, to curtail annual training for members of the reserve having regard to the provisions in the Defence Vote for the training of the reserve. Accordingly, each year since 1983 the annual training period for members of the FCA and An Slua Muirí has been reduced to seven days.
The position in regard to annual training is kept under review and in this regard it should be noted that, in addition to the seven days' annual training, 14 day courses of instruction, such as technical training, potential officer, potential NCO, standard NCO and senior NCO courses, are also arranged.
During 1994 approximately 8,500 members of the FCA and Slua Muirí attended for courses of annual training and instruction.
A gratuity is issued to members of the FCA and An Slua Muirí who complete a course of annual training or other full-time instruction and, in addition, they are paid at the same rates of pay as those that apply to corresponding ranks in the Permanent Defence Force. In addition to attendance at such training or instruction it is necessary for each member to have attended, in each month during the period 1 January to commencement of annual training, at least two local training parades or their equivalent in field days or overnight camps in order to qualify for payment of the gratuity.
Notwithstanding the reduced period of annual training that has applied in the reserve since 1983, the gratuity payable to qualified members who complete the maximum permissible period of training is at the full rate, and not at the reduced rate that would normally apply in respect of attendance for the shorter period. The same arrangements apply this year. The rates of gratuity are as follows:—
|
Rank (FCA/Slua Muirí)
|
Up to and including 1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
|
Commandant/Lieutenant-Commander.
|
108
|
140
|
173
|
|
Captain/Lieutenant.
|
|
|
|
|
Lieutenant/Sub-Lieutenant.
|
71
|
92
|
114
|
|
2nd Lieutenant/Ensign.
|
|
|
|
|
Non-commissioned Officers.
|
57
|
74
|
91
|
|
Private/Seaman.
|
42
|
55
|
67
|
The total amount paid in respect of gratuities in each of the years 1990 to 1994 was:—
|
1990—
|
£371,000.
|
|
1991—
|
£378,000.
|
|
1992—
|
£387,000.
|
|
1993—
|
£403,000.
|
|
1994—
|
£408,000.
|
The current cost of annual training is estimated at £2.5 million approximately and the estimated additional cost of restoring the normal annual training arrangements would be £2.3 million approximately. It is not possible to compute the additional cost of rations and other costs as these are not accounted for separately.
