Written Answers Nos. 209-17
209. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Defence If he will provide details in tabular form of the names of external public relations, consultancy persons and all the organisations used by his Department from February 2000 to February 2011; the amount paid for each; the justification for this expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46594/12]
View answerIt is assumed that the Deputy is seeking information in relation to external public relations consultancies and organisations. The attached table outlines the information in relation to the cost of hiring external public relations used by the Department of Defence from February 2000 to February 2011.
|
Year |
Company Name |
Expenditure € |
|
2001 |
Gallagher & Kelly Public Relations |
10,666 |
|
2002 |
Gallagher & Kelly Public Relations Sweeney Communications |
21,382 12,235 |
|
2003 |
- |
Nil |
|
2004 |
Sweeney Communications |
9,788 |
|
2007 |
Murray Consultants |
253,300 |
|
2008 |
Murray Consultants |
1,848,000 |
|
2009 |
- |
Nil |
|
2010 |
- |
Nil |
|
2011 |
- |
Nil |
The bulk of the above expenditure relates to a Public Information and Awareness Campaign on Emergency Planning. The main focus of the campaign was the publication and distribution of a handbook – ‘Preparing for Major Emergencies’. The handbook was distributed to every household in the country. My Department always seeks to ensure value for money and the keeping of expenditure to the minimum necessary.
210. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Defence if there is a North South Co-operation unit in his Department; the number of staff working in the North South Co-operation unit; the number of staff who have worked in the North South Co-operation unit in each year since 2007. [46614/12]
View answerMy Department does not have a North South Cooperation Unit.
211. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the total cost to fill the 600 vacant army personnel in the Permanent Defence Forces and to maintain the agreed Permanent Defence Force strength of 9,500; if he will clarify in his previous reply his statement that the recruitment will be achieved within the resource envelope allocated to Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46643/12]
View answerAs stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question, Number 491 on 16 October last, the Government has decided to accept my recommendation that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force will be maintained at 9,500. The approximate pay cost involved in the recruitment of 600 personnel on an annual basis is €13,273,065 inclusive of Employer’s PRSI contribution. This figure is broken down in the following table:
|
Competition |
Number of personnel |
Approx. Pay Cost € |
|
General Service Recruits* |
541 |
12,163,265 |
|
Instrumentalists in the Defence Forces School of Music |
28 |
535,240 |
|
Air Corps Apprentices |
20 |
252,221 |
|
Naval Service Engine Room Artificers |
11 |
322,339 |
|
Total |
600 |
13,273,065 |
*As recruits progress through their training they have three different pay scales in the first year. The resource envelope allocated to Defence is the amount of funding allocated in order to cover all costs in a given year which are within the remit of Defence. In this regard, as the strength of the Permanent Defence Force is below the approved 9,500, there is sufficient funding available to allow for the intake of 600 personnel.
212. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Defence if maintenance staff currently attached to Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa in Galway will be subject to mandatory relocation as part of his plans for the reorganisation of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46645/12]
View answerI presume that the Deputy is referring to the civilian maintenance employees of the Department attached to Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa in Galway. There are no plans to introduce mandatory relocation for the employees in question in the context of the current reorganization of the Permanent Defence Force.
213. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Defence if a person with only one kidney is automatically disqualified from joining the army; the reason there are no specific criteria or guidelines for applicants to see if they qualify before going through an entire process only to be informed after a medical that they are not eligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46670/12]
View answerAll applicants for entry to the Permanent Defence Force must be in good mental and bodily health and free from any physical defect, abnormality, physiological condition, or past history of serious illness likely to interfere with the efficient performance of his/her duties in accordance with Defence Force Regulations. Each individual’s medical condition is looked at taking into account a detailed/documented history of the condition, including remissions, exacerbations, and any associated conditions, the extent of the condition, and a full examination of the individual by a Medical Officer of the Medical Corps.
There is no list of illnesses or conditions which result in an applicant being ineligible for enlistment. Physical and medical standards are of general application for entry to the Permanent Defence Force. These are based on the professional advice of the Medical Corps and have regard to the nature of the job, the duties of military service and the training exercises undertaken by members of the Defence Forces.
214. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; when payment will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46548/12]
View answerProcessing of the application concerned has recently been completed and payments under the Single Payment Scheme and Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will shortly issue to the nominated bank account of the person named.
215. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the agri-environment option scheme will issue in respect of a person ( details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46566/12]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st November 2010 and full payment totalling €833.28 issued in respect of 2010. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. These checks have been successfully completed in respect of 2011 and full payment totalling €4,999.94 has issued to the person named. Payment in respect of 2012 will to commence later in the year.
216. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the single farm payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46586/12]
View answerAn application under the 2012 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 25th April 2012. The application is now fully processed and payment will issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
217. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue on an application for an allocation of payment entitlements from the single payments scheme national reserve in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46609/12]
View answerThe person named submitted applications under the new entrant category of the 2011 National Reserve. This category caters for farmers who commenced farming after 15 May 2009. In addition applicants under this category are also required to meet certain criteria with regard to income limits and educational qualifications. With regard to the income limits applicants are given a choice of two years either year end 31 December 2009 or 31 December 2010. In addition the off-farm income cannot exceed the upper limit of €30,000. The person named submitted income details for both year end 31 December 2009 and year end 31 December 2010 and when PAYE and PRSI were deducted his off-farm income was calculated which still exceeded the upper limit of €30,000. The person named was deemed ineligible and a letter outlining this decision issued to him on 16 December 2011.
