Written Answers Nos. 294 - 302
294. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which further overseas deployment of the Defence Forces with the UN is envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23438/17]
View answerAs of 04 May 2017, Ireland is contributing 575 Defence Forces personnel to 9 different missions throughout the world and also to a range of international organisations and National representations.
The main UN missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 369 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 136 personnel.
Ireland has a long and continuous record of contributing to peacekeeping missions, both UN led and UN mandated. Participation in these missions demonstrates Ireland’s strong support for the role of the United Nations in international peacekeeping. The current contribution of some 575 personnel to overseas missions reflects the Government’s continued commitment to our responsibilities in this area.
The Department of Defence constantly reviews the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas. As the Deputy will be aware, the Naval Service vessel, LÉ Eithne with a crew of 72 personnel, will soon deploy to the Mediterranean to undertake humanitarian search and rescue operations, which will further increase the numbers serving overseas.
With regard to any future deployments of Defence Forces personnel overseas, Ireland receives requests, from time to time, in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. My Department, on an ongoing basis also reviews in consultation with the military authorities, existing deployments and also other UN mandated missions. Following recent government approval, the number of Irish personnel deployed to EUTM Mali will increase from 18 to 20 personnel in the near future. At this point in time, however, deployment of Defence Forces personnel to new missions is not currently envisaged.
Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed as follows.
Members of the Permanent Defence Force Serving Overseas As of 4 th May 2017
1. UN MISSIONS
(i) UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ - 30
UNIFIL 109th Infantry Battalion - 331
UNIFIL Sector West HQ - 8
(ii) UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel & Syria - 12
(iii) MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) - 3
(iv) MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) - 4
(v) UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) HQ (Yafour Damascus) - 1
UNDOF Staff Appointments (Camp Ziouani) - 5
UNDOF 55th Infantry Group (Camp Ziouani) - 130
TOTAL - 524
UN MANDATED MISSIONS
(vi) EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) - 5
(vii) EUTM Mali (EU-Led Training Mission) - 18
(viii) KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo ) HQ - 12
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS - 559
2. ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE)
(i) OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina - 1
(ii) Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group, Vienna - 1
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH OSCE - 2
3. EU MILITARY STAFF
Brussels - 4
4. MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES/ADVISERS/STAFF
(i) Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York - 1
(ii) Military Adviser, Irish Delegation to OSCE, Vienna - 1
(iii) Military Representative to EU (Brussels) - 4
(iv) Liaison Officer of Ireland, NATO /PfP (Brussels) - 2
(v) EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium - 1
(vi) Irish Liaison Officer to SHAPE & Military Co-Op Division, Mons, Belgium - 1
TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS - 575.
295. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the budget available to his Department remains sufficient to meet requirements in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23439/17]
View answerThe total gross budget allocation for the Defence and Army Pensions Votes in 2017 is over €921 million. This allocation provides for the pay and allowances of over 10,400 public service employees (including 9,500 members of the Permanent Defence Force), ongoing Defence Forces standing and operational costs and also facilitates investment in essential equipment and infrastructure. It also provides for the payment of pension entitlements to former members of the Defence Forces.
The budget allocation allows the Defence Forces to deliver on all their assigned roles, both at home and overseas, as set out in the White Paper on Defence.
296. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the degree to which the most modern training methods remain available to the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23440/17]
View answerThe primary function of training and education in the Defence Forces is to develop and maintain the capabilities necessary to enable it to fulfil the roles laid down by Government.
The Defence Forces conducts training and education under four broad categories namely; leadership, skills, career and collective training. Leadership training is the medium through which the Defence Forces ensures that personnel are prepared for exercising command authority across the full range of military functions both at home and overseas in international operations. Skills training is the medium through which the Defence Forces ensures that its personnel have the requisite individual, specialist, and crew skills. Career training and education provides the organisation with the necessary pool of leaders and commanders at all levels. Collective training allows military personnel to use their individual, crew, specialist and career training together, to develop integrated and coherent combat forces.
The scheduling of training in the Defence Forces is underpinned by an analysis of training needed to meet operational output requirements and capability development needs. A long term strategy is adopted with current planning horizons out to 2021.
The Defence Forces seek to constantly benchmark training across all three arms against best military and academic practice. Military best practice is ensured by implementing a policy of standardisation that is in line with EU and NATO/ Partnership for Peace partners. Academic best practice is ensured by benchmarking courses through accreditation under the National Framework of Qualifications which is validated by Quality and Qualifications Ireland.
The Defence Forces delivers military programmes and modules meeting national and international standards. The Defence Forces also engages with external educational institutions in order to facilitate organisational learning. This engagement with national and international educational institutions, military and civilian, aims to ensure that the Defence Forces retains currency with regards to best international practice and employs all relevant modern training methods. I am committed to ensuring that the personnel of the Defence Forces continue to be trained to best international standards.
297. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the strength of the Defence Forces including Reserves, Army, Naval Service and Air Corps; the number of women in each branch of the services; the likelihood of recruitment and replacements following retirements in 2017 and over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23441/17]
View answerThe table sets out the strength of the Defence Forces, as of 31 March, 2017 (the latest date for which figures are available), as requested by the Deputy.
|
Service |
Current Strength |
No. of Females |
|
Army |
7,297 (Whole time equivalent) |
477 |
|
Naval Service |
1,069 (Whole time equivalent) |
60 |
|
Air Corps |
708 (Whole time equivalent) |
33 |
|
Total(PDF) |
9,072 |
570 |
|
Reserve |
1,975 (Effective) |
28 0 |
The Government is committed to maintaining the establishment of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service as stated in the 2015 White Paper on Defence.
On an ongoing basis, the manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services. As there is significant turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force targeted recruitment has been and is currently taking place so as to maintain the agreed strength levels. As with other areas of the public service, challenges have arisen in relation to the recruitment and retention of personnel in particular areas of expertise. I am advised by the Military Authorities that a total of 590 General Service Recruits were enlisted into the Permanent Defence Force in 2016, of which 501 Recruits were enlisted in the Army and 89 Recruits were enlisted in the Naval Service. In addition, 100 Cadetships were awarded following the 2016 Cadetship Competitions.
I am advised by the military authorities that their planned target is to induct approximately 850 new entrants to the Defence Forces across all services and competition streams in 2017.
A new General Service Recruitment campaign was launched on 23 February 2017 and the 2017 Cadetship competition was launched in March 2017. Direct Entry Competitions are also held as required from which specialist appointments are filled. An Air Corps apprentice class was also inducted in March 2017.
Promotions are ongoing within Officer ranks in order to fill rank vacancies. A new NCO promotions competition to fill vacancies to the ranks of Sergeants and above has been launched from which promotions will commence in Q3 2017.
I remain committed to increasing recruitment to the Defence Forces and it is my intention that targeted recruitment will continue to be carried out within the resource envelope allocated to Defence and in the context of the policy and strategy regarding recruitment set out in the White Paper on Defence.
298. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount spent by his Department on renting car park spaces in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23447/17]
View answer299. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount spent by bodies and agencies under the aegis of his Department on renting car park spaces in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23463/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 298 and 299 together.
There was no expenditure by my Department or bodies and agencies under the aegis of my Department on renting car park spaces in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017.
300. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of persons that are employed under the aegis of his Department through agencies in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23928/17]
View answer301. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the persons employed through agencies in his Department, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23942/17]
View answerI propose to take Question Nos. 300 and 301 together.
My Department employs 14 persons through agencies to provide support services to the Defence Forces. These are the only persons employed by my Department or the Defence Forces through the use of agencies.
302. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the monetary value of all work contracted out under the aegis of his Department to external agencies or consultancy for work completed or investigations undertaken in human resources and industrial relations including hiring and interviewing of staff and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23954/17]
View answerPayments made to external agencies in the human resources and industrial relations areas for the Department of Defence in the period since 6 May 2016 is €9,384.25. In addition, from time to time, my Department will engage individuals to serve on interview boards.
