Thomas P. Broughan
Question:132. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Defence if he intends to hold a new recruitment drive for the Defence Forces in 2014. [53231/13]
View answerDefence Forces Recruitment
Questions (132, 141)
Bernard Durkan
Question:141. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence when recruitment to the Defence Forces will reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53324/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 141 together.
I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 31 October 2013, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,222 comprising 7,422 Army, 778 Air Corps and 1,022 Naval Service personnel.
General Service recruitment recommenced in September 2013, from the existing competition panels from which, as of 2 December, there has been an intake of 360 recruits. In addition, 9 Engine Room Artificers for the Naval Service have recently been recruited while the induction of up to 8 Apprentices for the Air Corps is in the process of being completed. As the Permanent Defence Force is currently below the agreed stabilised strength of 9,500, it is my intention that targeted recruitment will continue within the resource envelope allocated to Defence. It is planned to run a new General Service recruitment competition in the first half of 2014. Details will be made available on the Defence Forces website www.military.ie when the competition commences.
With the support of the Chief of Staff and within the resources available, I intend to retain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks laid down by Government both at home and overseas.
Defence Forces Properties
Questions (133)
Bernard Durkan
Question:133. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which the various military establishments decommissioned in recent years throughout the country have been disposed of to date; the extent of the receipts on foot of such disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53316/13]
View answerWritten answers
My 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 taking place 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. Columb Barracks is currently used by an Garda Síochána and the Customs Service for training purposes and a large part of the barracks has been leased to Westmeath GAA Board for use as a potential centre of excellence.
In addition to the main barracks a number of other smaller properties have also been identified as surplus to military requirements in recent years. Some of these have already been disposed of whilst others are in the process of being prepared for disposal. These mainly consist of married quarters and Reserve Defence Force premises.
The total realised to-date in terms of sales of surplus property is €104m approx. An additional €1m approx. will be realised in early 2014 when the contracts for the sale by auction last week of ten former Reserve Defence Force properties are closed.
Defence Forces Equipment
Questions (134, 135, 136)
Bernard Durkan
Question:134. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which Army road and off-road vehicles continue to be upgraded in order to ensure reliability in the event of emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53317/13]
View answerBernard Durkan
Question:135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which Air Corps aircraft and equipment are regularly replaced and-or upgraded in line with requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53318/13]
View answerBernard Durkan
Question:136. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which all Naval Service vessels continue to be improved, upgraded or replaced as necessary to ensure reliability in the event of an emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53319/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 to 136, inclusive, together.
In the current economic situation, the acquisition of equipment for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service takes place on a strictly prioritised basis to ensure that the Defence Forces can carry out their roles at home and overseas.
In recent years, a number of vehicle purchases took place which included minibuses, standard patrol vehicles and mid-coaches for troop transportation. The main acquisitions for 2013 were four tractor units, four 4x4 ambulances, four transit crew cabs, one 52 seater coach, five Ford Ranger 4 x 4 vehicles, twenty transit stores vans and a number of fork-lifts and recovery trailers. In addition, funding is provided on a continuous basis for the required maintenance of vehicles in the military transport fleet.
With regard to the Naval Service, a contract for the provision of two new ships was placed with Babcock Marine, UK in October, 2010. The first ship to be named LE Samuel Beckett is scheduled for delivery in March 2014; the second will be delivered in early 2015. This vessel replacement strategy combined with a continuous process of refurbishment and repair will ensure that the operational capability of the Naval Service is maintained at a satisfactory level. The acquisition of these new vessels with the very latest equipment suites will ensure that the Naval Service will be fully equipped to carry out its day to day roles in enforcing the State’s sovereign rights over our waters and our fisheries and meeting Ireland’s obligations in the area of maritime safety and security and fisheries protection.
The equipment and aircraft available to the Air Corps are of a high standard and are maintained by the Air Corps in accordance with best practice. There is no provision for the acquisition of new aircraft for the Air Corps in 2013. However, a significant level of investment in new equipment for the Air Corps took place in recent years. The investment programme included the delivery of Pilatus training aircraft, the acquisition of two light utility EC 135 and six utility AW 139 helicopters and a mid life upgrade on the two CASA maritime patrol aircraft. Expenditure in the Air Corps for 2013 relates to the maintenance and Power by the Hour contracts set up to keep the fleet operational and to maintenance on the CASA aircraft.