Vol. 482 No. 4
7 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence whether Price Waterhouse management consultants have been requested to carry out further work on the reviews of the Air Corps and Naval Service; if so, the revised terms of reference given to the consultants; the expected date of completion of the work by the consultants; whether he will publish the completed reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15170/97]
The Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan, 1996-1998, provided for special studies to be carried out on the Air Corps and the Naval Service. In July 1996 the efficiency audit group engaged Price Waterhouse Management Consultants to conduct special studies into the Air Corps and the Naval Service. The consultants subsequently furnished a preliminary draft report to the efficiency audit group. This draft report highlighted issues which required to be studied in greater detail and identified a number of new issues which required examination.
As a consequence, rather than publishing a report that merely identified problems, it was decided that the consultants further examine these problems to produce a report that was as comprehensive and well grounded as possible. It is believed that the resulting report will produce a definitive blueprint for the development of these important services in the years ahead. The consultants are due to report to the efficiency audit group in mid December. It is my intention to publish this report at the earliest possible juncture.
When will the report be published? Have the consultants considered the retention gratuity which the Minister is offering to Air Corps pilots? One of the key issues is how to retain the pilots we are training given the incentives to move to commercial airlines. Who is advising Price Waterhouse Management Consultants on matters relating to the Air Corps? Are outside specialists working with them?
The answer to the last question is yes. The report will be published as soon as possible after I receive it. The report is expected to be with the efficiency audit group by mid-December. I do not anticipate a long delay in having it published once I receive it.
There has been a considerable amount of misapprehension and justifiable anxiety about the amount of time taken to produce this report. The Deputy will appreciate that the range of services carried out by the Naval Service and the Air Corps in drug interdiction, sea and air rescue, fishery surveillance and serving the community required a detailed and structured examination. It was necessary to ensure the report was sufficiently comprehensive to enable us to develop the right policies. However, having said that, it has taken longer than I would have anticipated to produce it and I am anxious to publish it and move on to the integration of that process into the general review of the Defence Forces.
Has the issue of the retention gratuity been examined by Price Waterhouse or is the Minister taking an independent decision on that? Has that been accepted by the pilots?
Letters were issued in the last day or so to 25 pilots in relation to that scheme. I hope to get a very positive response.
That incentive scheme is a central issue, but is the Minister aware there is concern that the differentials it will create in the Air Corps will be very bad for morale among senior officers? Perhaps he ought to consider other incentives. It is not an easy issue with which to deal. However, is following that route not likely to create more dissatisfaction rather than achieving its very worthy aim, which is to retain trained pilots in the Air Corps?
Does the Minister intend to buy or lease the new helicopter for the Department of Defence?
It is not too long since I was in Opposition, one of the attractions of which is the luxury of pointing out faults in Government schemes and recommending different schemes without having to say what they should be. I understand the attractions of that world and have, on occasion, exploited them myself.
On many occasions.
This scheme is designed, as the Deputy said, to retain pilots in the Air Corps. It was negotiated for particular pilots and is a far better arrangement that the compulsory retention scheme which existed prior to the introduction of this scheme by my predecessor on 1 August. Bearing in mind the manner in which Air Corps pilots are attracted to the aviation industry, which has improved dramatically, and the desire of my illustrious shadow spokesperson, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, to manage the public finances with a degree of discretion, it is the best we can do.
It is not possible to solve all problems and to make the same offer indiscriminately to everybody. It would be a grand world if we could always apply special incentive schemes across the board. However, it would result in the disappearance of the incentive aspect for the group at which it was targeted. We must concentrate the scheme on those for whom it was intended. The consultative process has concluded and the letters of sanction have been sent.
I raised the question in relation to retaining pilots for the new Air Corps service which is to be developed for the east coast. I also raised the question of the leasing or buying of the helicopter. In terms of the long-term development of the Air Corps and in the interest of retaining pilots and developing their expertise, the Government could build confidence in the Air Corps and demonstrate its support by buying rather than leasing a helicopter. Such a commitment from the Department of Defence to buying a helicopter and training our pilots to provide this service would improve morale and strengthen the wish of pilots to remain in the Air Corps. It would mean the Department of the Marine was not calling the shots.
As the Deputy knows, this matter is covered by a later question. However, the proposals which have been made in this regard and have been put out to tender by the Department of the Marine will necessitate the very direct involvement of the Air Corps. It is envisaged that a number of pilots will be immediately seconded to provide that service and the training process must get under way to enable the scheme to begin in June or July 1998. It is further envisaged that the number of pilots will increase to nine or ten in a short time in order to provide the required range of services for the east and south east.
The Air Corps pilots will be an integral part of the provision of that service, which demonstrates the Government's commitment to providing the best possible sea and air rescue service for an area which was neglected. As the Deputy said, the proposal has been made by the Department of the Marine but the Air Corps pilots will be an integral part of the provision of that service and the necessary training. It will be my task to ensure the new recruits and cadets are trained to provide those new services.
