Thomas P. Broughan
Question:84 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Defence the progress being made with regard to the implementation of the provisions of the White Paper on Defence and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13670/00]
Written Answers - White Paper on Defence.
P. J. Sheehan
Question:87 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Defence when the final version of the White Paper on Defence was published; the progress that has been made in developing an implementation plan for it and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13722/00]
Frances Fitzgerald
Question:130 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence when the final version of the White Paper on Defence was published; the progress made in developing an implementation plan in this regard and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13834/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 87 and 130 together.
I thank the Deputies for giving me this opportunity to inform the House of the latest position on implementation of the White Paper on Defence. Implementation is moving ahead quickly and positively. The most important element of this is the organisation and resourcing of the Defence Forces.
The White Paper sets out a comprehensive strategy for the management and development of defence for the next decade. The Government has fulfilled its commitment in An Action Plan for the Millennium to define a long-term strategy for defence. This strategy includes a major new £250 million investment programme in equipment and infrastructure. This will ensure we have a modern and sustainable defence organisation with the depth and flexibility to respond to future demands.
The final text of the White Paper on Defence was available very shortly after its approval by Government on 29 February 2000. The final text has been available on my Department's website for the past two months and a full-colour printed version of the White Paper has been available for sale from early May 2000.
In accordance with paragraph 4.3.17 of the White Paper, I recently directed the chief of staff to draw up a draft implementation plan for my consideration and approval which will give effect to the organisational elements of the White Paper. I advised the chief of staff that I considered it is important that the draft plan adopt a long-term view of Permanent Defence Force organisation to reflect the ten year time frame of the White Paper. The new organisation as set out in the White Paper will be based upon an overall PDF manpower which will not exceed 10,500 with the option of an additional 250 recruits in training.
The proposed plan should also provide for the maintenance of existing barracks and should be broadly consistent with the proposals on the reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Force set out in Chapter 5 of the White Paper.
In accordance with the ten year timeframe for the White Paper the draft plan will address the broad goals set out in paragraph 4.3.19 of the White Paper, namely: to provide a light infantry based force with an appropriate level of all-arms capability; to provide sufficient forces and capabilities to meet needs at home and to make a significant contribution abroad; to put in place a more cohesive and better equipped force than exists at present, and to provide significant additional resources for equipment and infrastructure broadly within the existing level of financial allocation.
I have asked the chief of staff to submit a draft plan to me by the end of June 2000.
An important element of the White Paper is the reallocation of resources to improved equip ment and infrastructure. I have already announced decisions on major new equipment programmes which are a key element of White Paper implementation.
Air Corps capabilities will be augmented through a special £55 million investment programme over the next three years, with the procurement of new helicopters being given special priority.
The Naval Service vessel replacement programme has already commenced with the planned acquisition of a second new state of the art offshore patrol vessel similar to theLE Róisín at a cost of some £20 million.
In addition, I announced a multi-million pound investment programme for the Army, worth an estimated £25 million over the next three years. The package includes the purchase of light infantry tactical vehicles, modern effective anti-armour weapons, night vision equipment, engineer equipment and medical field equipment. This equipment will be of considerable benefit to the Army in carrying out its roles at home and overseas.
This means that I have announced investment in new equipment totalling at least £100 million in addition to the £40 million already set aside for the purchase of 40 armoured personnel carriers. Investment of this scale confirms that the White Paper represents a serious response by the Government to a sustained case advanced by the military authorities to develop the Defence Forces into a world-class military organisation and we have allocated the funding that this ambitious project will require.
Other implementation initiatives and measures will be rolled out over time. I will keep the House informed of these as they arise. My overall objective is to ensure that the country has the Defence Forces that it needs and that the Defence Forces continue to be an organisation in which people are proud to serve.