Written Answers Nos. 791-806
791. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of staff from his Department currently seconded to other Departments or agencies in the Civil Service, per annum, from 2010 to date in 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36962/16]
View answer792. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of staff from his Department who have appealed against secondment, per annum, from 2010 to date in 2016, in tabular form; the appeals mechanism involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36978/16]
View answer793. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of staff from his Department currently seconded to a firm in the private sector, per annum, from 2010 to date in 2016, in tabular form; the details of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36994/16]
View answer794. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of staff from his Department currently seconded from a firm in the private sector, per annum, from 2010 to date in 2016, in tabular form; the details of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37010/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 791 to 794, inclusive, together.
The following table below sets out details of staff seconded from the Department of Defence to other Government Departments or agencies in the Civil Service and organisations in the private sector in the period 2010-2016.
|
Year |
Áras an Uachtaráin
|
Department of Foreign Affairs (Brussels) |
Legal Aid Board |
European Defence Agency (EDA) (Brussels) |
CPSU |
Total |
|
2010 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
- |
1 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2011 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
- |
1 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2012 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
- |
1 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2013 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
- |
1 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2014 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
- |
1 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2015 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2016 |
2 |
1 |
- |
1 |
1 |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I can confirm that no appeals were made to my Department in relation to secondment in the period in question.
There are no staff currently seconded to my Department from an organisation in the private sector.
795. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the funding that has been provided to County Louth over the previous three years, from 2014 to 2016, by project name, location and funding amount, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37219/16]
View answer796. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the applications submitted for funding for projects from Louth County Council in each of the years 2014 to 2016, in tabular form; and if the applications were successful. [37235/16]
View answer797. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the funding for projects in 2017 in County Louth to be provided by his Department by project name, location and funding amount, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37251/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 795 to 797, inclusive, together.
Expenditure by my Department is mainly on pay and allowances and the operational costs and capital investment across the Defence Forces. My Department does not provide funding on a geographic basis, with the limited exception of the funding provided from the Defence Vote in respect of Civil Defence and for the upgrade and development of military installations.
Civil Defence training and operations are funded by a combination of a central grant from the Department of Defence and a contribution from the relevant local authority on a 70/30 basis. The annual operational grant from Defence covers 70% of the running costs of Civil Defence each year and the Local Authority provides the remaining 30%. Applications for funding from Local Authorities are based on the actual expenditure incurred during the year and are submitted retrospectively.
Grants are also issued to the Local Authorities on application, from time to time, towards the purchase of vehicles and equipment. There are no outstanding grant applications from Louth County Council at present.
As funding is provided retrospectively, there are no details yet available in relation to funding for Louth County Council for 2017.
The relevant information in relation to County Louth, for the years 2014 to 2016, is presented in the following table.
Civil Defence Funding - Louth
|
Year |
Projects |
Funding |
|
2014 |
Annual Operational Grant for Civil Defence |
€82,847 |
|
|
Swiftwater Rescue Equipment Grant |
€2,860 |
|
2015 |
Annual Operational Grant for Civil Defence |
€73,273 |
|
|
Grant towards purchase of two 4x4 vehicles |
€35,350 |
|
|
Refund of costs of Hepatitis immunisation for Civil Defence volunteers |
€3,825 |
|
2016 |
Annual Operational Grant for Civil Defence |
€67,568 |
|
|
Grant towards purchase of Minibus |
€4,968 |
|
|
Grant towards the purchase of an Ambulance |
€17,750 |
In relation to the upgrade and development of military installations, the following table provides the relevant figures for County Louth for the years 2014 to 2016, with an estimated €40,000 planned for 2017.
Upgrade of Military Installations - Louth
|
Year |
Location |
Funding |
|
2014 |
Aiken Barracks |
€255,231 |
|
2015 |
Aiken Barracks |
€87,340 |
|
2016 |
Aiken Barracks |
€200,500 |
798. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the funding that has been provided to County Meath over the previous three years, from 2014 to 2016, by project name, location and funding amount in tabular form. [37267/16]
View answer799. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the applications submitted for funding for projects from Meath County Council in each of the years 2014 to 2016, in tabular form; if the applications where successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37283/16]
View answer800. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the funding for projects in 2017 in County Meath to be provided by his Department by project name, location and funding amount, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37299/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 798 to 800, inclusive, together.
Expenditure by my Department is mainly on pay and allowances and the operational costs and capital investment across the Defence Forces. My Department does not provide funding on a geographic basis, with the limited exception of the funding provided from the Defence Vote in respect of Civil Defence and for the upgrade and development of military installations.
Civil Defence training and operations are funded by a combination of a central grant from the Department of Defence and a contribution from the relevant local authority on a 70/30 basis. The annual operational grant from Defence covers 70% of the running costs of Civil Defence each year and the Local Authority provides the remaining 30%. Applications for funding from Local Authorities are based on the actual expenditure incurred during the year and are submitted retrospectively.
Grants are also issued to the Local Authorities on application, from time to time, towards the purchase of vehicles and equipment. There are no outstanding grant applications from Meath County Council at present.
As funding is provided retrospectively, there are no details yet available in relation to funding for Meath County Council for 2017.
The relevant information in relation to County Meath, for the years 2014 to 2016, is presented in the following table.
Civil Defence Funding - Meath
|
Year |
Project |
Funding |
|
2014 |
Annual Operational Grant for Civil Defence |
€115,086 |
|
|
Fit-out of a new Communications Control Vehicle |
€5,000 |
|
|
Cost of Hepatitis Immunisation for Civil Defence volunteers |
€14,430 |
|
|
Participation in Rope Rescue Competition in Belgium |
€2,500 |
|
|
Swiftwater Rescue Equipment |
€3,000 |
|
2015 |
Annual Operational Grant for Civil Defence |
€117,536 |
|
|
Participation in Rope Rescue Comp., Belgium |
€3,000 |
|
|
Cost of Hepatitis Immunisation for Civil Defence volunteers |
€8,540 |
|
|
Grant towards the purchase of two vehicles |
€20,000 |
|
2016 |
Annual Operational Grant for Civil Defence |
€116,771 |
|
|
Cost of Hepatitis Immunisation for Civil Defence volunteers |
€4,910 |
|
|
Grant towards purchase of Search-Dog Vehicle |
€12,750 |
In relation to the upgrade and development of military installations, the following table provides the relevant figures for County Meath for the years 2014 to 2016, with an estimated €20,000 planned for 2017.
Upgrade of Military Installations - Meath
|
Year |
Location |
Funding |
|
2014 |
Gormanston Camp |
€7,486 |
|
2015 |
Gormanston Camp |
€81,720 |
|
2016 |
Gormanston Camp |
€118,693 |
801. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the estimated savings to the State since the standing down of the Fourth Western Brigade by the Government in 2012; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this decision may have had a negative impact on the overall morale in the Defence Forces; if consideration will be given to reviewing this decision in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37315/16]
View answerFollowing a comprehensive review of expenditure carried out in 2011, the strength ceiling of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) was stabilised at 9,500 personnel. It was clear from the review that the three brigade Army structure was no longer viable, particularly when compared to international norms.
Accordingly, a major re-organisation of the Defence Forces was implemented in order to ensure that the Defence Forces could operate efficiently and effectively within the revised strength ceiling of 9,500 personnel and was not focused on achieving savings. The re-organisation encompassed the consolidation of the three under-strength brigades into two full strength brigades. Key aspects of the re-organisation, which was introduced in 2012, included the consolidation of under-strength units into a smaller number of full strength units, a reduction in the number of headquarters and the associated re-deployment of personnel from administrative and support functions to operational units.
The re-organisation has maintained the operational capacity of the Defence Forces to the greatest extent possible within the available resource envelope and has improved the deployability and sustainability of the Defence Forces, both at home and overseas. This remains a key focus for the future. It is important to note that the re-organisation did not reduce the numbers of PDF personnel serving in locations within the former 4th Western Brigade area and I am satisfied that a return to a three brigade structure would cause a range of unnecessary inefficiencies, such as an increased administrative burden arising from the need to reintroduce a layer of non-operational middle management, and a return to under-strength units.
The White Paper on Defence 2015 confirmed the Government’s commitment to retain a PDF strength of at least 9,500 personnel and the continued retention of the Army’s two Brigade structure.
802. Deputy John Deasy asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of premises owned and-or managed by his Department in each county; and the number of these currently unoccupied. [37423/16]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
|
Premises |
Occupied |
Unoccupied |
|
Clare |
|
|
|
Knockalisheen |
Partly Occupied |
|
|
RDF Premises Ennis |
Yes |
|
|
Total Clare |
2 |
|
|
Cork |
|
|
|
Kilworth Camp |
Yes |
|
|
Bere Island |
Yes |
|
|
Naval Base, Haulbowline |
Yes |
|
|
Fort Davis, Whitegate |
Yes |
|
|
Fort Templebreedy, Crosshaven |
Yes |
|
|
Collins Barracks Cork |
Yes |
|
|
Showgrounds Fermoy |
Yes |
|
|
RDF Kilcrohane |
Yes |
|
|
RDF Skibereen |
Yes |
|
|
RDF Mallow |
Yes |
|
|
Total Cork |
10 |
|
|
Donegal |
|
|
|
Finner Camp |
Yes |
|
|
Total Donegal |
1 |
|
|
Dublin |
|
|
|
Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines |
Yes |
|
|
Cathal Brugha Barracks , Former Married Quarters – 12 units |
9 occupied
|
3 unoccupied |
|
McKee Barracks, Blackhorse Avenue |
Yes |
|
|
No 64 McKee Park , Blackhorse Avenue |
Yes |
|
|
St. Bricin's Hospital, Dublin 7 |
Yes |
|
|
Old School House, Arbour Hill |
Yes |
|
|
2 Tomar Court, Arbour Hill |
Yes |
|
|
Casement Aerodrome , Baldonnel |
Yes |
|
|
Esplanade Collins Barracks |
Yes |
|
|
Total Dublin |
17 |
3 |
|
Galway |
|
|
|
Oranmore Rifle Range |
Yes |
|
|
Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa |
Yes |
|
|
Total Galway |
2 |
|
|
Kerry |
|
|
|
Ballymullen Barracks Tralee |
Yes |
|
|
Fort Shannon, Tarbert |
Yes |
|
|
RDF Premises Kilorglin |
Yes |
|
|
Total Kerry |
3 |
|
|
Kildare |
|
|
|
Curragh Camp |
yes |
|
|
2 Orchard Park |
Yes |
|
|
23 Orchard P ark |
|
Yes |
|
78 Orchard Park |
Yes |
|
|
85 Orchard P ark |
|
yes |
|
96 Orchard P ark |
yes |
|
|
Total Kildare |
4 |
2 |
|
Kilkenny |
|
|
|
Stephen's Barracks Kilkenny |
Yes |
|
|
Total Kilkenny |
1 |
|
|
Laois |
|
|
|
RDF Portlaoise |
Yes |
|
|
Total Laois |
1 |
|
|
Longford |
|
|
|
Connolly Barracks, Longford |
Yes |
|
|
Total Longford |
1 |
|
|
Louth |
|
|
|
Aiken Barracks, Dundalk |
Yes |
|
|
Red Barn Rifle Range, Dundalk |
Yes |
|
|
Total Louth |
1 |
|
|
Mayo |
|
|
|
Military Barracks Castlebar |
Yes |
|
|
Total Mayo |
1 |
|
|
Meath |
|
|
|
Gormanston Camp and Aerodrome |
yes |
|
|
RDF Navan |
yes |
|
|
Total Meath |
2 |
|
|
Roscommon |
|
|
|
Military Barracks, Boyle |
Yes |
|
|
Total Roscommon |
1 |
|
|
Tipperary |
|
|
|
Military Barracks Nenagh |
|
yes |
|
Park of McCann Barracks, Templemore |
yes |
|
|
Total Tipperary |
1 |
1 |
|
Waterford |
|
|
|
Military Barracks Waterford |
yes |
|
|
Total Waterford |
1 |
|
|
Westmeath |
|
|
|
Columb Barracks, Mullingar |
Partly occuppied |
|
|
Custume Barracks, Athlone |
Yes |
|
|
Total Westmeath |
2 |
|
|
Wexford |
|
|
|
Military Barracks Wexford |
yes |
|
|
Total Wexford |
1 |
|
|
Wicklow |
|
|
|
Kilbride Camp and Rifle Range |
Yes |
|
|
Coolmoney Camp |
Yes |
|
|
Rockbrae House Bray |
Yes |
|
|
Range Warden's Post, Seskin |
Yes |
|
|
Total Wicklow |
4 |
|
803. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reports commissioned by his Department since 2006 which, while completed or in final draft form, have not been published; the reason they have not been published; the expected publication date; the cost to date of each such report; if tenders were invited; if it is not intended to publish any such report the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37545/16]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Company |
Tender |
Nature of Report and Implementation |
Cost |
|
2006 |
Millward Brown, IMS
|
Subject to a Request for Tender in October 2005. |
A commissioned Public Attitude Survey and Report from carrying out a market research programme into public attitudes and awareness of emergency planning in Ireland. The aim was to assist in the development of a communication strategy and to inform future Government public information and awareness campaigns. The survey and report findings were for internal use and have, therefore, not been published. |
€30,912 |
|
Grayling Communications Consultants |
Subject to a Request for Tender in March 2006. |
A commissioned Report on developing a Communications Strategy for a Government public information and awareness campaign on emergency planning based upon the Millward Brown research and from consultation with stakeholders in lead Government Departments.
The report findings were for internal use and, therefore, have not been published. A public information and awareness campaign was subsequently launched in April 2008. |
€14,520 |
|
|
2015 |
Mr John Kearon |
There was no tender competition due to the specialised nature of the research project. |
Research on vessels linked to Roger Casement. The work involved a considerable amount of research both in Kerry and London by an expert on boats of the period. The National Museum of Ireland was consulted but did not have the required expertise. However, it suggested Mr. Kearon who had the skills and experience required. The report findings were for internal use and, therefore, have not been published. |
€4,605 |
804. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his Department or the agencies that report to his Department entered into any non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements with any organisation due to court action or a threatened court action; and if so,the persons or groups with which these agreements exist. [37625/16]
View answerThe Chief State Solicitor's Office and the State Claims Agency manage and provide legal representation in relation to all cases taken against the Minister for Defence.
In cases where the State is considered liable or which involve an apportionment of liability as between the State and the claimant, I am informed that both the State Claims Agency and Chief State Solicitor’s Office approach is to settle such cases expeditiously in so far as it is possible and to do so on reasonable terms. In cases where liability is fully disputed by the State, all necessary resources are applied to defending such claims robustly.
Non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements may be attached on a case by case basis depending on various factors. The Department does not hold separate statistics in relation to cases involving non-disclosures or confidentiality agreements and each case file would have to be individually examined in order to ascertain this information. As this task would involve inordinate effort, it is not possible to supply the Deputy with this information.
805. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 223 of 23 November 2016, the total number of hectares the Gormanstown Army Camp lands currently stand at; the total number of hectares currently operational and in day-to-day use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37673/16]
View answerGormanston Army Camp stands on 105.93 Hectares (261.77 acres). The Department of Defence has let 62.3 Hectares (154 acres) of this land to a local farmer. The remaining lands are operational and used day to day as part of the permanently occupied Gormanston Army Camp.
The Department of Defence also leases additional land of 7.29 Hectacres (approximately 18.024 acres) adjacent to the camp from a landowner which is used as a gallery firing range.
806. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the appointment of additional special advisers by him and Ministers of State in his Department. [37886/16]
View answerI appointed Special Advisers Mr. John Coughlan and Ms. Clare Mungovan under Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. Their contracts of employment commenced with effect from 6 May 2016 and with effect from 18 May 2016 respectively.
Their appointments are to temporary, unestablished positions in the Civil Service. The term of office of each Special Adviser shall cease on the date of expiration of my assignment as Minister of State at the Department of Defence.
