Written Answers Nos. 843-852
843. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a person (details supplied) who took part in the military parade for the 100th anniversary 1916 commemoration and who has since left the Naval Service is entitled to their commemoration medal; and if so, if this medal will be issued to the person. [11190/17]
View answerAs part of the Programme for Government, it was proposed that a commemorative medal be awarded to all Defence Forces personnel, Permanent and Reserve, who were recorded as being in service in the course of 2016. The 1916 Centenary Medal is being awarded as a commemorative medal, personal to an individual’s service in the Defence Forces in the course of 2016.
The Military Authorities have advised me that the individual is entitled to be awarded the 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal. Therefore, it is advised that the individual makes contact with the last unit he served in and the formation will assist him in obtaining his medal.
844. Deputy John Brady asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount his Department spent on public relations consultants and all matters relating to public relations in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11426/17]
View answerMy Department did not incur any expenditure on public relations in 2016.
845. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the level of construction inflation that has been experienced by his Department in each of the past six years and to date in 2017 in respect of construction projects and other capital projects; the way in which he monitors construction inflation and the mechanisms he employs to establish this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11533/17]
View answerFor Department of Defence capital projects, construction inflation, including projections of future inflation levels, is monitored by reference to both the Tender Price Index published twice yearly by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and the reports published annually by some of the larger Quantity Surveying and Cost Management firms. The SCSI is an independent Index of construction tender prices in Ireland and is based on tender returns for non-residential projects, covering all regions of the country. The published documentation provides a picture of typical construction inflation levels.
While the overall volume of construction projects progressed by the Department in recent years has been relatively small, the nature of the Defence property portfolio predisposes towards a high proportion of refurbishment work, including work on heritage type buildings, as well as projects relating to specialist military structures that are not typical construction projects, such as firing ranges, etc. The portfolio of properties requiring refurbishment is also quite disperse in location.
Construction inflation is monitored having regard to the prevailing inflation in the construction sector and any unique attributes of particular Defence projects.
846. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number currently serving in the Permanent Defence Forces; and the full year cost of increasing the numbers from this current level to 9,500, 10,000, 10,500, 11,000 and 11,500. [11629/17]
View answerAs of 31 January, 2017 (the latest date for which figures are available), the serving strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 9,136 whole-time equivalent personnel. The pay allocation for the Permanent Defence Force in 2017 is €417 million and this amount will allow for the payment of the full establishment of 9,500 personnel. The estimated full year salary cost of a notional increase of the serving strength of the PDF from 9,500 personnel to 10,000 personnel is approximately €11.7 million, and per notional increase of 500 personnel thereafter.
The Government is committed to maintaining the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at or near the establishment figure of 9,500 personnel. A major new recruitment drive was recently announced targeting an intake of some 860 personnel, including general service recruits, apprentices and cadets.
847. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number currently serving in the Reserve Defence Forces; and the full year cost of increasing the numbers from this current level to 3,000, 3,500, 4,000, 4,500, 5,000 and 5,500. [11630/17]
View answerThe recently published White Paper on Defence sets out a developmental path for the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). It provides that the overarching establishment of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) will be 4,169 personnel, consisting of 3,869 Army Reservists and the expansion of the establishment of the four NSR Units from currently 200 personnel to 300. The current total strength for the Reserve Defence Force is 2,009 effective personnel and subhead A5 provides for a budget €2.115 million for paid training. The budget is sufficient having regard to the existing strength of the AR and NSR.
Indicative costs of meeting the Paid Training requirements for the notional increase in RDF numbers outlined in the question are set out in the tabular statement.
|
Strength Level |
Increase above current strength |
Additional Paid Training Cost |
|
3,000 |
991 |
€1,043,287.71 |
|
3,500 |
1,491 |
€1,569,668.99 |
|
4,000 |
1,991 |
€2,096,050.27 |
|
4,500 |
2,491 |
€2,622,431.56 |
|
5,000 |
2,991 |
€3,148,812.84 |
|
5,500 |
3,491 |
€3,675,194.13 |
It should be noted that providing for numbers beyond the current establishment would require a reappraisal of organisational structures and levels and costs of PDF support required and given the establishment set in the White Paper and the current reserve recruitment challenges, such an increase is not envisaged.
848. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of persons that have submitted protected disclosures regarding hazardous working conditions at Casement Aerodrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11864/17]
View answerI can confirm that three protected disclosures, which have been the subject of previous Parliamentary Questions, have been made to my Department which relate to allegations concerning health and safety in the Air Corps. Each of the three disclosures was made by a different individual. Under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, I have an obligation to protect the identity of those making disclosures under the Act and in this context it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the identity of those making such disclosures.
849. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will commission a study to investigate the potential link between chronic illnesses suffered by former Air Corps technicians and their exposure to toxic chemicals during the course of their duties, similar to inquiries established in Australia that found that medical conditions suffered by its air force staff were a direct result of their working conditions. [11866/17]
View answerAs I indicated in my responses to other recent parliamentary questions on this issue, it is not appropriate for me to comment on the matter of former Air Corps personnel who claim personal injuries alleging exposure to workplace chemicals at this time as these cases are the subject of ongoing civil litigation before the High Court. In reference to enquiries conducted in Australia, I am informed by the military authorities that there are a number of published reports and ongoing studies in relation to Australian personnel who were exposed to chemicals while conducting a particular maintenance task on a specific aircraft programme. As such, the military authorities have advised that it would be difficult to draw a direct comparison between the Irish Air Corps and that of the Australian Air Force.
There are a number of processes already in train relating to reviewing health and safety procedures in the Air Corps. As you know, following a number of inspections at the Air Corps premises at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, in 2016, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) issued a report of inspection with a number of general improvements and recommendations for follow up. The Air Corps committed to addressing these recommendations as part of an eight phase implementation plan. I am advised that seven out of the eight phases are planned to be completed by May 2017. You will also be aware that in September 2016 I appointed an independent third party to review allegations made in a number of protected disclosures relating to health and safety issues in the Air Corps which were received in late 2015 and early 2016. I await that reviewer’s report. I can assure the Deputy that I will ensure that all recommendations, whether arising from the work of the Health and Safety Authority or the ongoing protected disclosure review, will be acted upon to ensure the safety of the men and women of the Air Corps. In the circumstances and pending the completion of the ongoing processes, I have no plans to commission another review on this matter.
850. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the position regarding the issue of payment of back pay to certain members of the Defence Forces (details supplied). [11987/17]
View answerOn 27 September 2010 the Adjudicator under the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force awarded an increase in the Army Ranger Wing allowance. This award is backdated to 1 June 2006. The Adjudicator’s Findings cannot be implemented having regard to the provisions of Sections 2 and 5 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No 2) Act 2009.
This adjudication is part of the outstanding adjudication findings covered under paragraph 1.16 of the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014. Paragraph 5.3 of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2018, known as the Lansdowne Road Agreement, states that “The Parties have agreed that any outstanding adjudications as referred to in paragraph 1.16 of the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 will be reviewed jointly by the Parties prior to the expiry of this agreement.” The review mechanism is the subject of ongoing consideration in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
851. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the position regarding members of the Defence Forces who were injured seriously in the line of duty and have been accommodated with their employment whereby an arrangement has been put in place for lighter duties; the number of such arrangements in place in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11989/17]
View answerEvery member of the Defence Forces who has been injured, in the line of duty or otherwise, as well as any individual who suffers from an illness, disability, impairment or handicap, will be examined as part of the Military Medical Occupational Surveillance programme and will be assigned a specific medical classification code (MCC). The MCC takes account of the particular injury or disability and, depending on the circumstances, may be associated with operational restrictions. Such restrictions arise due to the individual's condition not allowing him or her to safely participate in the full range of duties, or because participation in the full range of military duties could aggravate his/her condition. Alternatively, the ultimate declaration is that the individual is below Defence Forces medical standards.
There is a mechanism that personnel in this category can, at the discretion of the Minister on the recommendation of the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) remain on in service. This mechanism is invoked from time to time.
Provision is made, where personnel are employed in a capacity in which their disabilities do not interfere in the efficient performance of their duties, or leave them at risk of further injury, that they may be retained in service.
In such cases the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) may, in the case of an officer, recommend to the Minister that such an officer not be retired or not be required to relinquish his or her commission immediately. In the case of an enlisted person, the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) may order, that such an enlisted person not be discharged immediately.
In either case, the Minister for Defence or Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) as the case may be, may subsequently order that the officer or enlisted person be required to retire or relinquish his or her commission or be discharged because of such disability. As the numbers of serving Defence Forces personnel involved are very small and in order to protect the privacy of personnel in question, I am advised by the military authorities that divulging any further details may identify individual cases.
852. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 68 of 15 February 2017 and Parliamentary Question No. 846 of 28 February 2017, the reason for the longer than normal stays at Shannon Airport in April and October 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12163/17]
View answerThe Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. On each occasion that the support of the Defence Forces is required, An Garda Síochána issues a form C70 to the Defence Forces to request their assistance.
Since 5 February 2003, the Gardaí have requested support from the Defence Forces at Shannon Airport on occasion. The duration of Defence Forces deployments at Shannon Airport is determined by the length of time an aircraft is on the ground. As a deployment is a 12 hour shift, a single aircraft on the ground for an extended period, perhaps overnight, would involve more than one deployment of troops per request.
The request for assistance from An Garda Síochána to the Defence Forces does not stipulate the reason for landing or the expected duration of the stay.
