Vol. 536 No. 2
68 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Defence the training courses which are available to retiring Defence Force personnel; the percentage uptake of such pre-retirement courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13654/01]
The Defence Forces personnel support service provides comprehensive pre-retirement courses for personnel who are due to retire on age grounds from the Defence Forces. The content and issues covered in these courses are kept under review on an ongoing basis and the reaction to the courses by retiring members is very positive. While the actual percentage uptake of such pre-retirement courses is not readily available, the military authorities have advised that the attendance on these courses is generally very high.
More generally, the Defence Forces are continuing to develop and run a wide and diverse range of in-service training courses for serving members which meet both the needs of the organisation for specialist resources and provide serving personnel with valuable and recognised qualifications and skills. The acquisition of recognised qualifications and applicable vocational skills has facilitated access to excellent opportunities in civilian life following service in the Defence Forces.
In the context of retired members of the Defence Forces, I am advised that recently retired officers are being denied entry into the reserve. Why is that, or has that changed in recent weeks? Surely, the reserve would greatly benefit from the experience and expertise of recently retired officers and it is a means of maintaining their involvement in a constructive way with the Defence Forces to the benefit of this country.
I agree with Deputy Shatter – I think the opposite is the position. With so many developments in terms of employment opportunities, we are stretched to try to maintain our numbers in the FCA. I have made some changes so that specialist personnel, in particular, who are in short supply in some areas can now join the FCA. A number have joined and become actively involved. I will double-check the position in regard to some officers who have retired. Even though we are carrying out a review and a number of issues will obviously be left aside for the time being, it would greatly surprise me if somebody who had served in the Defence Forces on a permanent basis was refused admission to the FCA. I will check it. I would like to have the particulars so that I can give the Deputy a more definite reply. It would greatly surprise me as it is totally at odds with what I hear everywhere else.
It is my understanding that some officers who have retired have been denied admission to the Reserve Defence Forces. Perhaps the Minister will look into that issue—
Have you a question, Deputy Shatter?
—because I am sure he will agree it is of considerable importance, particularly because of the ongoing difficulties with numbers.
Deputy Shatter, the Chair addressed you. Have you a question?
It was a question. If the Chair actually heard what I said about five or six words ago—
You did not ask a question.
I asked if the Minister would agree. Sir, we had, I think, a fairly constructive Question Time before you took the Chair. Perhaps if you took the care to listen to what I said, you would have noticed that I was asking a question.
Does the Minister agree that, in the context of the difficulties with numbers in the Defence Forces, we should, as he said, encourage those who have retired to involve themselves in the reserve? Will the Minister assure the House that if there are still difficulties in this area, as there were some weeks ago, he will have them addressed? Will he respond to me on that issue by way of correspondence if he does not have the information immediately?
I would be happy to do that. We are encouraging people at all levels to help us to keep up our numbers.
