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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 21 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 5

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Report.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

63 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence if he will give a progress report on the implementation of the report by a company (details supplied). [17484/00]

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. It was accepted at that time that some of these recommendations could be proceeded with fairly quickly while others would take longer to implement. It was accepted also that the recommendations had to be implemented in a structured and coherent way that would contribute to the overall development of the Defence Forces, particularly within the context of the then proposed White Paper on Defence.

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 and, 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.

The Chief of Staff recently submitted a revised Naval Service draft plan for my consideration and earlier this month I asked that the necessary detailed implementation process be now put in place to make the plan a reality. I have also written to the Chief of Staff about the Air Corps plan which, subject to some revisions necessary in the light of decisions contained in the White Paper on Defence, can now be implemented.
While the Price Waterhouse process has been very important, the broader development of both services has been addressed also in the context of the White Paper. This can be seen particularly on the infrastructure and equipment side where investment in both services continued during the White Paper process with considerable sums expended on weapons, ammunition, transport, communications and equipment for the Air Corps and Naval Service.
In addition to that, the House will be aware of the major new equipment programmes which I have announced for the Air Corps and the Naval Service as a key element of White Paper's implementation.
Air Corps capabilities will be augmented through a special £55 million investment programme over the next three years, with procurement of new helicopters being given a 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 Roísín at a cost of some £20 million. This will be a replacement for the LE Deirdre which has been in service for nearly 30 years and is approaching the end of its economic service life.
Finally, the manpower needs of both services are being addressed both within the implementation plans processes and as part of the development of an updated Defence Forces' personnel management plan which is being prepared as a matter of priority. This plan will include a continuation of the policy of regular recruitment which has been in place in recent years.
My overall objective, as Minister for Defence, is to ensure that the country has the Defence Forces, including a Naval Service and Air Corps, that it needs and that the defence organisation continues to be one in which people are proud to serve. The changes we are making in the Air Corps and the Naval Service are consistent with that positive objective.
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