Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Jan 1998

Vol. 486 No. 1

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Training.

Jack Wall

Question:

383 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the entitlement of a member of the second line reserve to undertake annual paid training, in relation to hours attended and Defence Force regulations; the number of members of the Reserve who were unable to undertake paid annual training due to insufficiency of financial resources available to the Defence Forces in 1997; whether these members who do not attend a course of paid training may receive their annual training bounty; if so, whether this has been paid in each of the years from 1994 to 1997; the amount paid in this regard; and whether this situation will occur in 1998. [1355/98]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith):

Defence Force regulations provide that members of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil and An Slua Mu 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, or 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.

In order to be eligible for consideration for full-time attendance at annual training or other courses of instruction members of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil and An Slua Muirí ar to be on the effective strength of their units. Only personnel who attend the necessary minimum number of training parades or their equivalent in hours of training in any training year are retained on the effective strength.

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 approximately 8,500 members of the FCA and the Slua Muirí attend full-time annual training and courses of instruction.

A gratuity is payable to members of the FCA and 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 and allowances as those that apply to corresponding ranks in the Permanent Defence Force. Notwithstanding the reduced period of annual training that has applied in the case of the FCA and Slua Muirí 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.