Vol. 576 No. 3
3 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Defence if plans are being implemented to reduce Defence Forces staff further by 400 contrary to the number in the White Paper on Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29532/03]
The reduction in Defence Forces authorised numbers will be 250 and not 400. The target strength of the Permanent Defence Force will remain at 10,500, which is the figure set out in the Defence White Paper in February 2000. On 31 October 2003, the most recent date for which figures are available, the total strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 10,469. Therefore, the question of a reduction in numbers serving does not arise.
In future, recruits in training will be provided for within the overall White Paper strength of 10,500. The current special provision for up to an additional 250 recruits in training over and above the 10,500 figure will no longer apply. The Government remains fully committed to the policy of ongoing recruitment to ensure that an overall strength of 10,500 is achieved and maintained over time.
The reduction of 250 in the overall maximum number of recruits in training will be phased in over three years. The figure of 250 is a contribution to the reduction in the overall size of the public service to be achieved by the end of 2005.
Does the Minister agree there is serious concern among the representative bodies? I am aware he has attended two meetings of PDFORRA and that concern was expressed at a further reduction in the overall strength of the Permanent Defence Force. Such a reduction would be contrary to undertakings given in the White Paper for which the Minister was responsible. According to the White Paper, the overall strength of the Permanent Defence Force was to be 10,500 with 2,500 in training.
The figure was 250.
Yes. Will the Minister certify that the agreement in the White Paper has been breached? Does he agree this is the wrong time to cut back on the Permanent Defence Force when there are unprecedented demands in terms of peacekeeping, security at home and especially the next six months when Ireland assumes the EU Presidency?
I suppose there is never a right time. The present strength is 10,469. Nobody involved in the Defence Forces will lose his or her job or be asked to leave. In his budget last year, the Minister for Finance decided that, over a period of three years, there should be a reduction of 5,000 in the public service. Our contribution to that reduction is 250 and an additional 150 to be taken from civilian employees and from civil servants in my Department.
The main thrust of the White Paper was for an overall Permanent Defence Force strength of 10,500 to span a ten year period with an additional 250 in training. We have held closely to that commitment. There has been no period in our history of which I am aware where there was a Government decision to maintain a membership of 10,500 over ten years which involved a reduction in personnel, the resources from which would be invested in new equipment and infrastructural development. It gives historic certainty to the Defence Force in terms of planning and development. We accept the reduction of 250 in the context of the overall reduction of 5,000 in the public service.
I assure Deputy McGinley that we have a White Paper commitment to 10,500 over ten years and all the savings will be dedicated to infrastructural development and the purchase of equipment to enable our Defence Force to be a top class professional force. It would be easier and nicer if we did not have to face the consequences of this reduction. We are, however, in the best position to manage that reduction and to go forward with the certainty of 10,500 during that period.
There was also a commitment in the White Paper that savings accruing from a further reduction in the Permanent Defence Force would be reinvested. Will the Minister give the House an estimate of the savings arising from the reduction of 250 and indicate if those savings will be reinvested in the Defence Force for the purchase of equipment and modernisation?
I want to continue that policy which is a unique agreement between the Departments of Defence and Finance in the development of the Defence Forces. I see no reason I cannot do that. Given that the overall number is approximately 10,460, I do not have specific savings that I can dedicate. The principle of devoting the savings from the personnel reduction and the sale of surplus property is being applied.
In fairness to the Minister for Finance, he allocated these resources to me prior to being able to make the savings, so a considerable amount has already been expended. It is a policy which secures the development of the infrastructure and equipment of the Defence Forces into the future. If we are taking the pain, we are taking the gain.
Question No. 4 answered with Question No. 1.
