Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:491. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the specific study which underpinned the decision by the former Minister for Defence in 2011 to discontinue the Western Brigade. [42173/14]
View answerTuesday, 4 November 2014
Questions (491)
Written answers
Following the comprehensive review of expenditure in 2011, the Government decided to stabilise the strength ceiling of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel. Arising from this decision, a major re-organisation of the Defence Forces was initiated to provide appropriate structures for the revised strength ceiling for the Permanent Defence Force (PDF).
The Chief of Staff and the Secretary General of the Department of Defence were tasked with developing detailed proposals for consideration. A joint civil-military group was established to progress this work. Final proposals relating to the reorganisation of the PDF, agreed between the Chief of Staff and the Secretary General, were accepted in full by the then Minister for Defence.
I am satisfied that the current organisational structures have maintained the operational capacity of the Defence Forces to the greatest extent possible, within the available resource envelope. The Defence Forces continue to fulfil all roles assigned by Government.