Enda Kenny
Question:42 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has to implement the Price Waterhouse report on the Naval Service and Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4594/00]
Written Answers. - Price Waterhouse Report.
Austin Currie
Question:83 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Defence the number of meetings he has chaired as head of the implementation group of the Price Waterhouse review of the Naval Service and Air Corps since he appointed himself chairperson in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4597/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 83 together.
The 1998 Price Waterhouse report on the Air Corps and the Naval Service set out a range of recommendations for more effective and efficient air and sea services. Some of these recommendations could be proceeded with fairly quickly while others would take longer to implement. It is important that the recommendations be implemented in a structured and coherent way that contributes to the overall development of the Defence Forces.
I have always emphasised the importance of involving all of the relevant stakeholders in the process. Accordingly, I have established a special consultation group to provide a forum for the input of the key stakeholders in relation to the State aid and sea services. This consultation group, which I chair, comprises representatives from the civil and military branches of my Department, from the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Finance and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. To date the group has held an initial meeting at which I invited stakeholders to make their inputs to the process and appropriate contacts have been made at official level to facilitate this.
In October 1998, I directed the chief of staff to arrange for the general officer commanding the Air Corps and the flag officer commanding the Naval Service to submit implementation plans that would give effect to the effectiveness and efficiency recommendations in the Price Waterhouse report. Draft implementation plans for both services were submitted to me late last year. After careful consideration of both plans, I decided that additional work needed to be done to augment the draft implementation plan for the Naval Service. I am currently awaiting a revised draft plan from the chief of staff before I can advance the process. Once this plan has been received, the consultative group's principal work will begin. Further meetings of the group will occur as the planning and implementation process develops.
As with the reorganisation of the Defence Forces, the changes in the Air Corps and the Naval Service will be of a positive nature aimed at ensuring the ongoing development of these services consistent with the needs of the State and the taxpayer.
The broader development of both services has been dealt with in the context of the White Paper on Defence which presents a positive opportunity to develop the Defence Forces for the long-term. I will bring my proposals on the White Paper to Government very shortly.
Investment in both services has of course continued during the White Paper process and considerable sums have been expended under the Defence Vote on weapons, ammunition, transport, communications and equipment for the Air Corps and Naval Service.
Accommodation requirements at Casement Aerodrome are the subject of ongoing review, particularly in the light of the need to cater for personnel in the Air Corps headquarters and at Gormanston who are due to relocate to Casement. Contracts amounting to £3.4 million have been completed at Casement Aerodrome since 1996 and projects with an estimated final cost of over £5 million commenced in 1999. These include further hangar refurbishment; upgrading of the refuelling installation and a new Garda Air Support Unit building which will be shared by the Air Corps.
About £22.5 million was spent on Naval Service equipment in 1999 including approx. £10 million in respect of the new fishery protection vesselLE Róisín. This new vessel which was commissioned into the Naval Service on the 15 December 1999 became operational immediately thereafter and cost in the region of £22.5 million. The White Paper includes a commitment to the purchase of another fishery protection vessel similar to the LE Róisín as a replacement for the LE Deirdre which has been in service for nearly thirty years and is approaching the end of its economic service life. The contract for the purchase of the LE Róisín included an option, which is still available, to purchase a second ship of the same type at a similar price. Construction time for such a vessel would be in the region of 16 to 18 months.