Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 March 2022
33. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Defence his views on and response to the recommendation in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces that an office of veteran affairs be established. [13339/22]
View answerI welcome the completion of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, and commend the Commission for its work.
The Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces contains many detailed recommendations, including a recommendation in the chapter on Defence Forces structures, on the establishment of an Office of Veterans Affairs (OVA). There is a process underway to consider all recommendations in consultation with Ministerial colleagues. The intent is to revert to Government with a proposed response and a high-level action plan in advance of the summer recess. It would be inappropriate for me to pre-empt this deliberative process in advance of Government consideration.
My Department formally recognises two veterans associations which represent all former personnel - Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE), the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA). My Department and I engage on an ongoing basis with these associations.
A suite of services are provided by the Department of Defence to the associations. My Department has entered into service level agreements with both ONE and IUNVA, which provide for an annual grant to be paid to each to assist with their administrative overheads. As a further means of assistance, my Department has secured total funding of €500,000 under the Dormant Accounts Fund to assist ONE and IUNVA with specific special projects. Almost €300,000 was spent in 2021 while the remainder will be used to fund further special projects in 2022.
On 3 October 2021, I officially opened ONE's new residential home which can accommodate 5 retired members of the Defence Forces, incorporating a new Veterans Support Centre in Cobh, Co. Cork. This building was refurbished with funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund. IUNVA has used funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2021 to pay for the development of a new United Nations museum at its headquarters in Mount Temple Road, Dublin 7. Other funding was used to purchase IT equipment for IUNVA posts.
Furthermore, in line with the commitment in the current Programme for Government, my Department continues to facilitate, where possible, the establishment of ONE Veterans Support Centres (VSCs) around the country. VSCs are available to all veterans to seek support and advice, not just to ONE members. On 29 November 2021, I officially opened the new building housing the Defence Forces Personnel Support Service and ONE's Veterans Support Centre at Campfield, Collins Barracks, Cork. This project was funded by my Department and replaced a temporary Veterans Support Centre in the Cork Barracks.
My Department and I continue to work closely with the recognised veterans associations.
