Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 4

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Personnel.

Bernard Allen

Question:

166 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence the number of FCÁ and An Slua Muirí recruited and discharged by command in December 1998 and January 1999; and the strength of the reserve by command on 1 January 1997, 1998 and 1999. [4118/99]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I have been advised by the military authorities that the number recruited into and discharged from An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil and An Slua Muirí by command in each of the months December 1998 and January 1999 is as follows:–

Eastern Command*	FCA	FCA	An Slua Muirí	An Slua Muirí
	Recruited	Discharged	Recruited	Discharged
December, 1998	72,00	49.00	0.00	3.00
January, 1999	18.00	14.00	6.00	0.00

Southern Command*	FCA	FCA	An Slua Muirí	An Slua Muirí
	Recruited	Discharged	Recruited	Discharged
December, 1998	96,00	55.00	0.00	0.00
January, 1999	44.00	21.00	1.00	0.00

Western Command*FCA	Recruited	Discharged
December, 1998	202.00	175.00
January, 1999	15.00	26.00

Curragh Command* FCA	Recruited	Discharged
December, 1998	9.00	7.00
January, 1999	4.00	5.00

The strength of the Reserve by command on 1 January 1997, 1998 and 1999, was as follows:–

Reserve Forcestrengths on-	EasternCommand*FCA	SouthernCommand*FCA	WesternCommand*FCA	CurraghCommand*FCA	An Slua Muirí	First LineReserve
1/1/1997	2,329.00	5,310.00	4,985.00	1,765.00	326.00	518.00
1/1/1998	2165.00	5,207.00	4,858.00	1,661.00	297.00	509.00
1/1/1999	2,232.00	5,136.00	4,934.00	1,574.00	328.00	Not yetavailable.

*The recommendations contained in the Defence Forces review implementation plan in relation to the reorganisation of the Army took effect from 1 November, 1998. This means that the army is now organised as follows: Three brigades, Defence Forces training centre and two logistics bases.

Broadly speaking the areas of the three brigades correspond to the areas of the former Eastern, Southern and Western Commands with the exception that the area of the former Curragh command now forms part of the areas of the Eastern, Southern and Western Brigades. The area of the Defence Forces training centre corresponds to the area of the Curragh Camp and the Glen of Imaal.

However, the Defence Forces review implementation plan also provides for a special study of the reserve forces to be undertaken during the lifetime of the plan. Accordingly, in November, 1997, I announced the setting up of a joint civilian/military steering group to carry out this examination. As part of the examination process the Chief of Staff established a military board to conduct a study of the reserve. The joint civilian/military steering group, as part of its work, oversees and guides the military board in its task. Pending the findings and recommendaions of the study the FCA and An Slua Muirí are still organised in old command structure.