Wednesday, 6 Nov 2013

Written Answers Nos. 1-18

Defence Forces Properties

Questions (10, 12)

Joe McHugh

Question:

10. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Defence his plans for Rockhill House, Letterkenny, County Donegal, which formerly functioned as an Army barracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46648/13]

Joe McHugh

Question:

12. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Defence his vision of the purpose to be served by Department of Defence buildings that formerly functioned as Irish Army barracks; if he acknowledges the potential of such buildings to be settings for the development of youth facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46649/13]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 12 together.

As the Deputy is aware the Department has been engaged on an ongoing programme of barrack consolidation since 1998. This programme has brought to fourteen the number of barracks closed during that time. To-date nine of these barracks - Clancy (Dublin), Castleblaney, Ballincollig, Fermoy, Naas, Monaghan, Cavan, Castlebar and a large portion of Longford - have been sold.

In relation to the remaining barracks agreement has been reached for the sale of Lifford and Rockhill to Donegal County Council.

Discussions are ongoing in relation to the possible sale of Clonmel Barracks to South Tipperary County Council and the remaining part of Longford has been reserved by the OPW for the local Garda Síochána. Magee Barracks in Kildare and Columb Barracks in Mullingar remain the property of the Department of Defence.

Regarding the remaining Barracks, in accordance with normal procedure for the disposal of State property my Department has written to Government Departments and other Public Bodies seeking expressions of interest in acquiring any of the properties to benefit the local community. Negotiations are well advanced with the Department of Education for the purchase of a site in Magee Barracks of around 20 Acres however there has been no interest in the remainder of the site. No Public Body has expressed an interest in purchasing Columb Barracks in Mullingar.

I am of course aware of the possibilities for the use of surplus Defence Buildings and I would be happy to discuss with any interested group proposals they may have for the purchase and development of the site for the benefit of the local community. However any proposal involving the long term retention of the remaining properties by my Department, administering multiple leases and fulfilling the many responsibilities of a landlord would put a significant administrative and financial burden on my Department. Given the current resources available and the need to provide investment funding for the development of the Defence Forces I do not feel that the multiple leasing of the remaining Barracks is feasible and does not meet the purpose of the property disposal programme as outlined in the White Paper.

Question No. 11 answered orally.

Question No. 12 answered with Question No. 10.

Defence Forces Funding

Questions (13)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

13. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which he expects to be in a position to ensure the availability of sufficient resources throughout the Defence Forces in order to facilitate the full requirements in terms of strength, training, upgrading of military hardware and equipment notwithstanding the budgetary situation he inherited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46636/13]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

I am satisfied that the level of resources available to the Defence Forces, including, training, equipment and up to date technology, enables the Defence Forces to carry out their roles both at home and overseas. All elements of Defence expenditure were examined for the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure in 2011. In response to these resource constraints, the Defence Organisation has undertaken further significant reorganisation and reform. These changes will ensure that the Defence Forces organisational structures are configured to maximize required capabilities.

The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces remains a focus for me as Minister for Defence and is a matter that is kept under constant review. The budgetary situation, in the context of the current difficult economic situation, will continue to dictate the level of funding available for new equipment, training and upgrades.

Decisions will be made accordingly on a strictly prioritised basis with a view to maintaining the capability of all roles assigned by Government to the Defence Forces.

Training standards in the Defence Forces are constantly benchmarked against best international practice. Participation in ongoing overseas operations also necessitates multi lateral-training and assessment. This facilitates ongoing review of Defence Forces training methods and standards within an international military context.

I am also satisfied that Naval Service training techniques and technologies are up to date in all respects, with the most up to date equipment, including modern technology and IT equipment available to Naval Service personnel. With the forthcoming delivery of two new off shore patrol vessels, combined with a continuous process of refurbishment and repair on the other vessels in the fleet, the Naval Service will continue to meet the required operational capability. The Air Corps will continue to conduct its training in accordance with industry best practices and to the highest standards using the most modern methods and equipment available.

Question No. 14 answered orally.

Defence Forces Operations

Questions (15)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

15. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Defence his views on recent reports that Anders Fogh Rasmussen has called on European countries to step up efforts towards co-operation on defence matters. [46641/13]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

I understand that Secretary General Rasmussen referenced the need for greater cooperation among EU member States when he addressed an Inter-parliamentary Conference hosted by the Lithuanian Presidency in Vilnius on the 6th September 2013. At the conference, he stated that if European countries are to have access to the full spectrum of capabilities and forces they require for crisis management operations, they must cooperate more closely. In this regard, he referenced the European Defence Agency’s initiative on “Pooling and Sharing”, which complements the “Smart Defence” initiative in NATO. The context of his speech was the significant cuts in the defence budgets of EU member States and the global security challenges faced by Member States against the backdrop of increased investment by countries outside of the EU. I can recall the NATO Secretary General made a similar call for greater cooperation at European level when he was in Dublin to attend the Informal Meeting of Defence Ministers during Ireland’s EU presidency. As such, this is nothing new and such cooperation is something which Ireland also supports. Cooperation in the development of defence capabilities is necessary to ensure that the reduced resources available for defence are spent effectively and that there is no duplication of effort either within the Union or between the Union and NATO. Through cooperative efforts we can achieve greater efficiencies in the delivery of military capabilities for crisis management operations. To this end, cooperation between the European Defence Agency and NATO is ongoing in areas such as Counter Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED), Medical Support and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) protection projects. The Agency is also actively engaged in enhancing cooperation with the European Commission in a number of EU policy areas which have civil and military dimensions including, Maritime Surveillance, Cyber, Single European Sky and Radio Spectrum. This enhanced cooperation will help minimise any duplication of effort or inefficient use of resources across the EU system as a whole.

Ireland has been a strong supporter of effective cooperation among member States and with NATO on the development and delivery of military capabilities for crisis management operations. Our participation in Partnership for Peace, has enhanced both the capability and the interoperability of the Defence Forces when engaged overseas in UN authorised peacekeeping and peace support operations.

During the course of our recent Presidency, a key priority was enhanced cooperation between the Commission and the European Defence Agency in relation to investment in maritime security and surveillance capabilities, cyber security and defence, and countering improvised explosive devices. Ireland as part of the EDA’s cooperative pooling and sharing initiative is also providing a lead role in reviewing Naval training with a view to greater cooperation and sharing of training resources across the Union.

All these projects have the potential to deliver more effective capabilities more economically and I welcome such initiatives and the statement of support from the NATO Secretary General for them.

Defence Forces Representative Organisations

Questions (16)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

16. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Defence if he has recently met the Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association to discuss its concerns regarding the changes to the Reserve Defence Forces and if he will provide an update on same. [46633/13]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

Since I accepted the Report on the Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) which identified the need for reform I have not received a request for a meeting with the Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association (RDFRA). Should such a request be received I would, of course, give it due consideration. The major re-organisation of the RDF currently underway is being overseen by a High Level Implementation Group comprising senior civil and Military Management of the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. The Group, meets on a regular basis, and has been planning and implementing the recommended changes and a new “Single Force” structure is now in place which has dovetailed with the re-organisation of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF).

RDFRA has had a significant input into the change process for the Reserve. A series of bi-lateral meetings of the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces commenced, and are continuing, on a regular basis with RDFRA. These meetings, which are chaired by the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support), are also attended by Military personnel and Departmental staff. The meetings afford RDFRA an opportunity to raise issues they may have in relation to the re-organisation of the Reserve. Similar meetings were held with the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) and the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) at which they were afforded the opportunity to raise issues they had in connection with the PDF Cadre support staff in relation to the re-organisation of the Reserve.

I am advised by the Military Authorities that the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) also attended the RDF Special Delegate Conference, in March 2013, at which he addressed a wide variety of issues raised by their members in relation to the re-organisation of the RDF. Two seminars were also held, on 29 June and 28 September 2013, in the Defence Forces Training Centre, Curragh Camp. These were held for Unit Commanders and RDF Sub Unit Commanders in order to afford them the opportunity to discuss any concerns they may have had in relation to the re-organisation.

In addition, there have been on-going briefings to the Reserve Defence Force by relevant Military Personnel in relation to the re-organisation of the Reserve. I am satisfied that there are sufficient and robust systems in place within the Defence Organisation to ensure that issues of concern to members of the Reserve Defence Force are brought to my attention, as appropriate.

Overseas Missions

Questions (17, 23, 29)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

17. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the Defence Forces mission to the Golan Heights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46839/13]

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

23. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the deployment of troops to Syria; and his plans to deploy any further troops to Syria. [46631/13]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

29. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Defence if he will report to the Dáil on the deployment of the 43rd infantry group of the Irish Defence Forces in the Golan Heights in Syria; the missions the Irish Defence Forces have been involved in to date in Syria; and the date on which it is expected that those members of the Defence Forces will return home. [46640/13]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 23 and 29 together.

I addressed the question of Defence Forces participation in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights in Syria, in answering the priority PQ earlier.

The Irish 43rd Infantry Company currently serving with UNDOF deployed to the mission area on 28 September 2013 and achieved full operational capability on 02 October 2013. Their role includes the provision of a Quick Reaction Force which is on standby to assist with on-going operations within the UNDOF Area of Responsibility. The Irish Infantry Group also carries out patrols and convoy escorts as necessary.

Initial deployment to UNDOF will be for one (1) year. This will, of course, be subject to renewal of the UN mandate and a satisfactory review of the mission at that time. Personnel of the Infantry Group will be rotated on a six-monthly basis. The first rotation of Irish personnel is scheduled for March 2014.

In addition to the 43rd Infantry Group there are also four (4) Defence Forces personnel based in UNDOF Headquarters. These personnel will be rotated on a yearly basis. UNDOF is assisted by the military observers from the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation’s (UNTSO) Observer Group Golan, which currently includes seven (7) Irish Officers.

Six members of the Permanent Defence Force who had been deployed as unarmed military observers to the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) in May 2012 were withdrawn in August 2012 when the mission’s mandate came to an end.

Emergency Planning

Questions (18)

Denis Naughten

Question:

18. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Defence when the last meeting of the Government task force on emergency planning was held; the agenda for the meeting; when it is planned to hold a further meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46638/13]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, which I chair, includes senior officials of Government Departments, senior officers of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces and officials of other key public authorities, which have a lead or support role in Government emergency planning.

The Task Force meets on a regular basis. So far this year there have been four meetings of the Task Force and the next meeting is scheduled for Monday, 11 November 2013. The last meeting took place on Monday, 23 September 2013.

While details of matters discussed at meetings of the Task Force and the specific Agenda items are confidential, I can confirm that the Task Force examines current risks and supports coordination arrangements for emergency planning across the whole of Government.

The Task Force is regularly briefed on such matters as the current security threat, which is provided by An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. It also receives regular updates specifically from the lead Government Departments. An example is the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, which chairs the National Steering Group under the Framework for Major Emergency Management, and is the lead Government Department in eleven of the forty two emergency scenarios identified.

The Task Force regularly addresses other emergency planning issues ranging from risk assessment to training and exercises as well as receiving regular briefings on current issues from the various lead Government Departments on their specific roles and responsibilities and their associated work programmes. The Task Force establishes Subgroups from time to time to specifically look at particular areas of emergency planning that may need to be addressed.

The next meeting of the Task Force, which will take place on Monday, 11 November 2013, will report on the normal standing items but will mainly focus on the launch of the national annual winter preparedness campaign. After that meeting, together with my colleague Phil Hogan, T.D, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, we will launch the 'Be Winter Ready' information campaign.

The purpose of the campaign is to provide information to the public on how best to prepare for winter. The advice is being delivered through the website www.winterready.ie and via Aertel page 592, along with the “Be Winter Ready” booklets. In addition, a twitter account is being launched and will be tweeting during the winter period to augment the ‘Be Winter Ready’ campaign, which can be followed through links on the website.