Vol. 489 No. 7
164 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence if he will give details of the provision and cost of ear plugs and ear muffs to the PDF and to the Reserve for each of the past ten years; whether he has satisfied himself regarding the provision and use of same, in particular where the Reserve are concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9557/98]
Adequate quantities of ear defenders are available to the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force to meet the health and safety requirements under Defence Force regulations. Ear defenders are issued individually to members of the Permanent Defence Force and on a unit basis to members of the Reserve Defence Force. A tender competition is currently under way to purchase the anticipated number of ear defenders required for new recruits this year. The following are the quantities and costs of ear defenders purchased in the past ten years:
|
Year |
Numbers |
Cost |
|
£ |
||
|
1988 |
120 |
293 |
|
1989 |
1,000 |
51,750 |
|
1990 |
350 |
15,531 |
|
1991 |
31,290 |
26,910 |
|
1992 |
700 |
33,858 |
|
1993 |
Nil |
Nil |
|
1994 |
46,650 |
88,031 |
|
1995 |
2,000 |
15,730 |
|
1996 |
11,500 |
198,958 |
|
1997 |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Total |
93,610 |
431,061 |
