Vol. 505 No. 2
1 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the steps, if any, he has taken to deal with the staffing crisis in the Naval Service; the proposed crewing levels for the new ship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13142/99]
There are approximately 100 vacancies within the Naval Service at present. The ongoing recruitment campaign for enlistment within the Defence Forces, which I have approved, is designed to address this shortfall. In the present year, 65 positions within the first intake of general service recruits in March-April have been allocated to the Naval Service. There will be a second such enlistment intake of general service recruits in September-October. Some 14 cadets will also be recruited this year from the 1999 cadet competition.
The new vessel is still under construction in the UK and is due for delivery at the end of September. The crewing level for the vessel has not yet been decided. In order to assess the crewing level required for the new vessel, full regard will be paid to and full advantage extracted from the new technology incorporated in the vessel, given what it offers in terms of automation and labour savings. This process of assessment can only be undertaken when the vessel has been delivered and the Naval Service has had an opportunity to train personnel in its operation.
The Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan provided for special studies on the Naval Service and Air Corps. Price Waterhouse has conducted those reviews and, in its report, recommended adjustment in personnel strength to a level of 1,144 in the case of the Naval Service. The Government, in line with recommendations from Price Waterhouse, has agreed in principle that the State's future sea and air support requirements be discharged by the Naval Service and the Air Corps, on the basis of an appropriate mix of multi-tasking-multi-capabilities and dedicated services and it is proposed that this approach will be taken into account in relation to the crewing of the new vessel.
Does the Minister accept the Naval Service is very close to having to tie up a ship or else drastically reduce the profile and work of the other vessels? Does he accept crewing levels on the ships are low and that more than half the fleet is sailing without its full complement of watch-keepers, for example?
No, but first I would like to welcome the Deputy back from the Lebanon. I was delighted to hear the trip was a success. I hope we were able to facilitate the trip in a way the Deputy would have wished.
The debate on the crewing of the new ship is going on. Let me make it absolutely clear there is no question of tying up ships. We will take on board the views of the Naval Service and its requirements. We have agreed with the overall manning requirements of the Naval Services of 1,144, which emerged from the Price Waterhouse review. We will take in 65 people in this recruitment drive and a similar number in September-October. It is important to take into account that the new ship and its requirements are a matter for discussion. Needless to say, we will bring that to a happy resolution. I look forward to seeing eight ships on the water next January with a full complement of staff doing the work we need them to do.
I thank the Minister for his kind words in relation to the Lebanon and for facilitating the trip. One certainly saw the professionalism of the Irish Army and the Defence Forces.
On the Naval Service, it is disturbing that the Minister does not accept that crewing levels on the ships are low and that some of the ships are sailing without the proper complement of watch-keeping officers, for example. If the Minister is to make progress on this matter, he will have to implement other measures. Has the Minister considered a scheme of rising through the ranks? What is stopping such a scheme from being developed? What about civilianisation in the Naval Service? Surely these proposals would help to deal with the shortages.
Since the start of 1998 the Naval Service has recruited, apart from the 74 recruits, four apprentices, nine watch-keeping officers, 12 cadets and three radio radar technicians. A second competition for 17 apprentices is now being completed. There are some stresses and the way in which the economy has developed has meant the numbers leaving the service have been greater than anyone would have wished. There are opportunities in the broader economy, which we are happy to report. We have to consider it as an opportunity and challenge which we must face down.
I am optimistic that the Price Waterhouse review and the numbers agreed by the Government are sufficient to do the job. We have to work within these constraints to ensure we make the best use of personnel. Everything possible is being done as regards recruitment. We have not had this scale of recruitment before, and we now have constant recruitment. The next tranche will be helpful and in the meantime, we will resolve the difficulties regarding manning. All over the world we have seen rationalisation proposals, adjustments, changes, new ships, automation and labour saving measures. I am confident we can resolve this issue on the basis of getting the best consensus possible.
