Austin Deasy
Question:102 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Defence if it is still his intention to reduce the numbers in the Permanent Defence Force to 10,500 and to close up to 11 barracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6658/00]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Strength.
The White Paper on Defence was approved by Government on 29 February 2000.
As I announced in this House at the time, the major features of this White Paper include the following: payroll savings for reinvestment in the Defence Forces will be obtained from a reduction in the approved strength from 11,500 to 10,500 plus the option of 250 recruits in training – the current strength is 10,900 and the reduction will not involve any redundancies or closure of barracks; a commitment to a policy of continuous recruitment to the Defence Forces along with the development of a new comprehensive personnel management strategy covering recruitment and promotion and an immediate step will be the planned recruitment of 750 personnel; the allocation of 100% of an estimated £20 million annual saving arising from Defence Forces restructuring and the allocation of 100% of the proceeds from the sale of all property surplus to military requirements to equipment and infrastructure; the development of the Air Corps with commitments to major equipment investment in new aircraft; the allocation of a special fund of £5 million per year for the next five years to meet urgent Air Corps equipment requirements; a con tinued investment in the Naval Service based on an eight ship flotilla, a commitment to order a second new ship and provision for new effectiveness and efficiency measures to enhance fishery protection; a continued commitment to overseas participation in accordance with Government policy – a key element of the development programme will be to ensure that the Defence Forces are geared to meet the new challenges in the overseas domain; the development of the reserve defence force involving a new organisational structure and a commitment to improved training and equipment – I intend to bring a more detailed proposal to Government, following a consultative process; the establishment of a new statutory authority to manage the Curragh particularly having regard to environmental matters; the decentralisation of the civil defence branch of the Department of Defence, involving thirty staff, to Roscrea.
This Government is committed to developing the Defence Forces into a world class military organisation and this White Paper sets out a comprehensive programme for the development of defence and the Defence Forces for the next decade.