Written Answers Nos. 772 - 784
772. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the most up-to-date figures for the strength of the Permanent Defence Force with regard to all three services and all ranks; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54050/17]
View answer774. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of additional recruits the Permanent Defence Force has recruited in 2017 with regard to all three services; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54052/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 772 and 774 together.
As of the 31st October, 2017 (the latest date for which figures are available), the whole time equivalent strength of the Defence Forces was as follows:
|
Service |
Total Personnel |
Female Personnel |
|
Army |
7,417 |
496 |
|
Naval Service |
1,058 |
74 |
|
Air Corps |
744 |
34 |
To return to, and maintain, the agreed strength levels, significant targeted recruitment has taken place in 2017.
A total of 702 personnel have been inducted to date in 2017 and it is planned to induct further recruits before the year end. The 702 personnel inducted encompass 567 General Service Recruits across the Army and Naval Service, along with 100 Cadets, 22 Air Corps Apprentices and 13 Direct Entry Officers (11 Naval Service and 2 Military Medicine). Females represent 9.8% of those inducted in 2017. The gender breakdown of 2017 recruits across the Defence Forces is currently being compiled by the military authorities, and I will revert to the Deputy with this information when it is available.
The number of Officers, as at 31st October 2017, is 1,056 out of an establishment of 1,233. The number of Cadets in training has substantially increased recently with 100 Cadets having been recruited in each of the years 2016 and 2017. Approximately 70 Army Cadets will be commissioned in January 2018
As I have previously outlined there are particular challenges with vacancies in certain specialist posts such as Pilots, Air Traffic Controllers and certain Technicians. These specialists can prove difficult to retain where, as in the current economic circumstances, there are ongoing private sector and commercial semi-state sector job opportunities.
To address these difficulties, a range of recruitment methods are being employed including direct entry competitions for specialist positions. I have directed the civil and military management to develop proposals for expanding such direct entry recruitment of specialists and a scheme to faciliate former PDF personnel with appropriate skill-sets to re-enter the Defence Forces. The Public Service Pay Commission will further examine the issue of retention of specialist personnel in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020
In tandem with these actions my Department is also engaged in planning on a longer term basis. Projects arising from the White Paper on Defence around topics such as medium term manpopwer planning and encouraging as wide a pool as possible for recruitment are already underway. Further projects, scheduled to begin in the New Year will address issues such as age profiles and a gap analysis of skill-sets within the PDF. The gap analysis will help to identify the frequency of such gaps and identify appropriate measures to address them.
I remain committed to maximising recruitment of capable personnel, developing serving personnel, and so achieving the best personnel and skills combination to ensure the Defence Forces retain the capacity to operate effectively across all roles.
773. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the most up-to-date figures for the strength of the Reserve Defence Force with regard to all three services and all ranks; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54051/17]
View answer775. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of additional recruits the Reserve Defence Force has taken on in 2017 with regard to all services; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54053/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Numbers 773 and 775 together.
As of 31 October 2017 (the latest date for which figures are available), the effective strength of the Reserve Defence Force was as follows:
|
Service |
Total Effective Personnel |
Female Personnel |
|
Army Reserve |
1,733 |
240 |
|
Naval Service Reserve |
123 |
19 |
I am aware that there is a shortfall between these figures and those of the establishment, which provides for 4,069 personnel. The most recent recruitment campaign for the Army Reserve and Naval Service began in July 2017 and attracted 1,221 applications. A total of 128 personnel have been inducted to the Reserve Defence Force in 2017. The recruitment process has also been streamlined so as to make it more efficient. The gender breakdown of the 2017 recruits is currently being compiled by the military authorities, and I will revert to the Deputy with this information when it is available.
Given the competing recruitment demands at present, where PDF recruitment is and should remain a priority, recruitment to the Reserve is continuing. However, it should be noted that the same personnel and resources are utilised for both Permanent and Reserve Defence Force recruitment and the planned recruitment of up to 800 Permanent Defence Force personnel this year obviously impacted on resource allocation.
I would like to assure the Deputy that I remain committed to the ongoing development of the RDF within the framework set out in the White Paper on Defence and having regard to resource availability.
776. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of suspect devices that the Defence Forces disposal unit has dealt with in 2017, by county, in tabular from. [54054/17]
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. The Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams respond when a request for assistance is made by An Garda Síochána in dealing with a suspect device. The number of EOD callouts, which include viable devices, hoaxes, false alarms, post-blast analysis and the removal of unstable chemicals in laboratories dealt with up to date in 2017, by county, are set out in the tabular statement below:
|
County |
Number of EOD Callouts |
|
Carlow |
2 |
|
Clare |
2 |
|
Cork |
4 |
|
Donegal |
4 |
|
Dublin |
39 |
|
Kerry |
1 |
|
Kildare |
9 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
|
Laois |
3 |
|
Limerick |
11 |
|
Louth |
3 |
|
Mayo |
1 |
|
Meath |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
|
Offaly |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
1 |
|
Sligo |
2 |
|
Tipperary |
2 |
|
Westmeath |
4 |
|
Wexford |
1 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
|
TOTAL |
94 |
777. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of days spent at sea by members of the Naval Service Reserve in 2016 and 2017. [54055/17]
View answerThe number of days spent at sea by members of the Naval Service Reserve in 2016 and 2017 is as follows:
|
Year |
Sea Days |
|
2016 |
150 days |
|
2017 |
167 days (to date) |
778. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the use his Department has made of the Government jet since coming into office, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54193/17]
View answer779. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the use his Department has made of the Government jet in each of the years March 2011 to February 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54209/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 778 and 779 together.
Information in relation to Ministerial Air Transport is available publically via a link entitled Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) on the Department of Defence homepage at www.defence.ie . This information is updated on a monthly basis.
The use of any Air Corps aircraft for Ministerial transport is subject to the authorisation of An Taoiseach.
780. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the photography costs for his Department in each year since March 2011 inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; the list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used, in tabular form; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54225/17]
View answerThe total costs for photography paid by the Department in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 to date is set out in the table below:-
|
2011 |
Maxwell Photography |
€393.25 |
|
2012 |
Fennell Photography |
€116.85 |
|
2013 |
Maxwell Photography |
€17.22 |
|
2014 |
Maxwell Photography |
€713.40 |
|
2017 |
Maxwell Photography |
€590.40 |
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, following an EU-level advertised procurement process, has established a Framework Agreement comprising five firms for the provision of photography services. The Framework was established in February 2012 and is open for use by all Government Departments and Offices. My Department normally avails of this Framework Agreement for photography needs.
781. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department in each year since March 2011; the list of uses of the external public relations firm; the internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54241/17]
View answerMy Department has not incurred any expenditure on external public relations firms since March 2011.
782. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the external consultant reports commissioned by his Department since March 2011; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report; and the publication date, in tabular form. [54257/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to external consultant reports commissioned by my Department since March 2011 is set out in the table below.
|
Report |
Cost |
Date of Commission |
Company |
Publication Date |
|
An independent review of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) fatalities in 1989 |
€51,660 |
19 April 2011 |
Mr. Frank Callanan, S.C. |
19 September 2011 |
|
Research on vessels linked to Roger Casement |
€4,605 |
Late 2015 |
Mr. John Kearon |
Not published |
|
Third Report of the Independent Monitoring Group (IMG) |
€22,500 |
September 2013 |
Dr. Eileen Doyle |
3 September 2014 |
|
Consultancy report to access the impact of an upgrade of Departments financial application software |
€24,870.60 |
23 October 2014 |
Fujitsu Ltd |
30 January 2015 |
|
Review of the Civil Defence Branch |
€7,200 |
March 2015 |
Mr. Jim Blighe |
Not published |
|
Review of the safe operation of Civil Defence watercraft. |
€26,400 |
March 2016 |
MarMan & Associates, Marine Consultants. |
Not published |
|
Review of communications in Civil Defence |
€1,400 |
September 2016 |
Mr. Ciaran Motherway |
Not published |
|
Aviation Regulation, Oversight and Safety Management in the Defence Organisation |
€35,000 |
January 2017 |
Bureau Veritas |
Not published |
|
Independent Review of the investigation of the death of Pte Hugh Doherty and the disappearance of Pte Kevin Joyce (Caomhán Seoighe) on 27 April 1981 while serving with IRISHBATT in the United Nations Interim Force in the Lebanon (UNIFIL) |
€33,665.55 (total cost including editing fees of €1,500) |
6 January 2015 |
Mr. Roderick Murphy (report edited by Mr Jim Blighe) |
Publication early 2018. |
783. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the level of expenditure by his Department from 1 January 2017 to date in 2017 on advertising of Government information campaigns published specifically in national and regional newspapers in addition to all online advertising for all such Government information campaigns; the name for each such information campaign to which this expenditure related; the cost of each, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54273/17]
View answer784. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the level of expenditure by his Department or organisations under the aegis of his Department from 1 January 2017 to date in 2017 on photography, advertising, communications advice, public relations, website development, media interview training and preparation; the events, campaigns or policies to which this expenditure related; the company or person to which such payments were made, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54289/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 783 and 784 together.
The total expenditure to date in 2017 by the Department of Defence for photography, advertising and website development is set out in the tables below. There was no expenditure in relation to communications advice, public relations and media training and preparation in 2017.
In relation to expenditure in these areas for the Defence Forces; it was not possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the timeframe available. I shall provide the figures to the Deputy when I receive them from the military authorities.
Photography
|
Campaign/ Policy |
Company |
Total |
|
Presentation of Long Service Medals and 1916 Commemoration medals to volunteer members of Civil Defence 26/5/2017 |
Maxwell Photography |
€590.40 |
Website development
|
Campaign/ Policy |
Company |
Total |
|
Replacement of the Departments websites ( www.defence.ie , www.emergencyplanning.ie and www.winterready.ie ) |
Annertech |
€34,507.66 |
Advertising
|
Campaign/ Policy |
Company |
Total |
|
101 st Anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising |
Mediavest Ltd. |
€3,894.74 |
|
Rifle Range Adverts |
Mediavest Ltd. |
€31,683.58 |
|
Rifle Range Adverts |
North Wicklow Times |
€1,199.25 |
|
National Heritage Guide Advert |
The Heritage Council |
€630.00 |
|
Annual Perambulation of the Curragh Roads Advert |
KFM Radio |
€369.00 |
|
Be Winter Ready Campaign Radio Advertisements |
Mediavest Ltd. |
€25,912.52 |
|
Be Winter Ready Campaign two page article in the Irish Independent |
Independent Newspapers Marketing Ltd. |
€6,150.00 |
|
Be Winter Ready Twitter campaign |
Mediavest Ltd. |
€5,535.00 |
|
Management of Twitter campaign |
Mediavest Ltd. |
€2,583.00 |
|
Advertising the services of the the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces -‘Signal’ Magazine – Autumn 2016 Edition |
Atlantic Digital Agency Ltd. |
€977.85 |
|
Advertising the services of the the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces -‘Signal’ Magazine – Spring 2017 Edition |
Atlantic Digital Agency Ltd. |
€977.85 |
|
Advertising the services of the the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces -‘An Cosantóir’ Magazine December 2017- January 2018 Edition |
JM Publishing Ltd. |
€977.85 |
|
Promoting Civil Defence |
Roscrea People |
€300 |
|
Promoting Civil Defence |
JP Devlin Media (Public Sector awards Magazine): |
€2,084.85 |
|
Promoting Civil Defence |
Education Magazine (Reference Guide) |
€984 |
|
Promoting Civil Defence |
Emergency Times Publication of January 2017 |
€344 |
The only departmental information campaign is the Be Winter Ready 2017 information campaign which was launched on 8 November for which total expenditure was €14,268.00 as outlined above.
