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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 5

Written Answers. - Representative Associations.

Question:

142 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide funding for the representative associations to ensure that their officials have proper training to allow them to carry out their duties and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22996/00]

A substantial proportion of the representative associations' annual income derives from the weekly or monthly subscriptions paid by their members. These subscriptions are deducted at source by my Department. For the year ending 31 December 1999, total deductions from pay were as follows: – RACO, Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, £184,000; PDFORRA, Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, £846,000; RDFRA, Reserve Defence Force Representative Association), £30,000.

In addition to this income, my Department provides the following facilities and funding to the associations, RACO is provided with serviced office accommodation without charge and has access to the Department's telephone network for internal and external calls without charge; PDFORRA, receives an annual subvention of £54,000 towards the cost of its office accommodation; RDFRA is provided with free office accommodation and receives an annual subvention of £41,000 in respect of staff costs, travel and subsistence expenses, and postage and telephone charges.

RACO and PDFORRA have agreed arrangements in place to provide for the release of military personnel for the purpose of attending association business, including training, at both local and national levels. In 1997, I agreed to pro vide funding to RACO for the provision of a researcher and in 1998 a similar arrangement was agreed with RDFRA. I have recently agreed to provide some funding for partnership training.
No request for funding in respect of extra training for representative association officials is currently under consideration in my Department.
Question No. 143 taken with Question No. 107.
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