Eamon Gilmore
Question:43 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence when the promised updated Defence Forces personnel management plan will be produced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17483/00]
Vol. 521 No. 5
43 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence when the promised updated Defence Forces personnel management plan will be produced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17483/00]
53 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Defence the plans he has to deal with the shortage of specialist personnel within the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17492/00]
55 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which optimum strength of the Defence Forces has been determined and-or achieved; the number of recruits likely to be needed in each of the next five years, based on retirements and resignations over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17584/00]
113 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the plans or proposals if any he has to substantially increase the strength of the Defence Forces at both air, sea and land levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17760/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 53, 55 and 113 together.
The recently published White Paper on Defence provided for the drafting of an integrated personnel management plan as a matter of priority. Of necessity this will require that a number of diverse issues be examined fully by the military authorities and my Department. Therefore, it would not be practical to put a specific time frame on the finalisation of the plan. Preliminary work has already begun. I envisage that the production of the plan will require a major effort by the civil and military branches of my Department in consultation, where appropriate, with the representative associations.
The requirement for specialist personnel in the Defence Forces is met through a combination of the training and education of newly recruited and serving Defence Force personnel and the induction of suitably qualified personnel through direct entry competitions.