Written Answers Nos. 1013-1027
1013. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence the amount spent by his Department on the procurement of office space and furniture and office IT equipment in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022. [40022/22]
View answerThe Department’s Expenditure in the past ten years to date on the procurement of office space, furniture and office IT equipment is listed in the following tables.
Procurement of office space
In 2020, the Department took responsibility for the annual rent due on its usage of office accommodation in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU and in the NATO PfP Liaison Office. This included the renovations carried out in the Liaison Office in 2020.
Portakabins were installed in the Department's building in Renmore, Co. Galway in 2017, at the request of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to accommodate NSSO staff during office refurbishments in their section. Since 2020, the Department of Defence has taken shared responsibility for their rental while the building's canteen was being renovated.
During this current year, the Department has commenced rental payments for office premises being used to accommodate the Independent Review Group.
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2011 - 2019 |
€0 |
|
2020 |
€ 505,881.55 of which €407,327.50 – renovations. |
|
2021 |
€199,918.32 |
|
2022 |
€174,072.20 |
|
Total |
€879,872.07 |
Office Furniture
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2012 |
€ 88,361.05 |
|
2013 |
€ 49,821.15 |
|
2014 |
€ 18,480.75 |
|
2015 |
€ 9,852.30 |
|
2016 |
€ 38,298.25 |
|
2017 |
€ 33,483.00 |
|
2018 |
€ 45,719.97 |
|
2019 |
€ 16,132.32 |
|
2020 |
€ 23,015.70 |
|
2021 |
€227,609.44 |
|
2022 |
€ 57,860.99 |
|
Total |
€608,634.92 |
Office IT Equipment
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2012 |
4,040.42 |
|
2013 |
1,479.69 |
|
2014 |
1,428.07 |
|
2015 |
1,752.75 |
|
2016 |
4,316.69 |
|
2017 |
2,308.57 |
|
2018 |
202.95 |
|
2019 |
8,469.92 |
|
2020 |
18,116.75 |
|
2021 |
1,901.82 |
|
2022 to date |
0 |
|
Total |
43,987.63 |
* This includes expenditure on Office IT equipment such as photocopiers, scanners, shredders, printers, etc.
1014. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence the number of times that he embarked on visits to foreign countries on behalf of the State since the formation of the Government; the geographical location of each visit; the number of days that he spent abroad on such trips; the dates upon which each trip took place; and the associated travel and accommodation costs which were incurred by his Department in relation to each trip in tabular form. [40040/22]
View answerThe table below sets out details in regard to the number of times that I, as Minister for Defence, embarked on visits to foreign countries on behalf of the State since the formation of the Government and the associated travel and accommodation costs of those visits, together with the geographical location of each visit, the number of days that I spent abroad on such trips, and the dates upon which each visit took place.
|
Date of travel |
Number of Days |
Location |
Total Travel & Accommodation Costs |
|
5 – 6 May 2021 |
1 |
Brussels |
€779.41 |
|
26 – 28 May 2021 |
2 |
Lisbon |
€1,360.00 |
|
4 - 7 July 2021 |
3 |
Lebanon |
€0 Government Jet used due to Covid |
|
1 – 3 September 2021 |
2 |
Slovenia |
€645.42 |
|
14 – 16 November 2021 |
2 |
Brussels |
€1,149.88 |
|
18 - 21 December 2021 |
3 |
Lebanon |
€4,438.43 |
|
12 – 14 January 2022 |
2 |
Brest |
€812.07 |
|
20 -21 March 2022 |
1 |
Brussels |
€770.68 |
|
28 May 2022 to 31 May |
3 |
Lebanon |
€6,272.36 |
1015. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Defence the current assets of the Navy, specifically all vessels and craft at its disposal and those that are not available for use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40086/22]
View answerThe Naval Service currently has six ships in the fleet. Five ships are operational with one ship, LÉ Niamh, currently undergoing a mid-life refit and upgrade. Three ships, namely LÉ Eithne, LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara have recently come to the end of their service and have been decommissioned.
Two Inshore Patrol Vessels have been purchased from the New Zealand Government to replace LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara. The delivery of these vessels is expected in 2023.
Marine Advisors have been appointed to support the procurement of multi-role vessel (MRV) to replace the flagship, LÉ Eithne, this work is underway and will inform a public tender competition in due course.
The Naval Service also operate a number of other craft, these are mainly considered to be part of the ship’s overall equipment, their availability is subject to change and is a matter for the Naval Service to determine on an ongoing basis. The project to replace the Naval Service Reserve motor launches is ongoing.
1016. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Defence the capital works projects in excess of €1.5 million that are currently ongoing within the Defence Forces; when each of those projects will be completed in tabular form. [40275/22]
View answerIn Military Installations across the country, there are capital works projects taking place with the aim of ensuring infrastructure, including accommodation, in the Defence Forces is modernised to allowed our Defence Forces to fulfil their demanding roles. I can advise the Deputy that the following Capital Works projects, in excess of €1.5m are currently underway:
|
Ongoing Capital Works Projects > €1.5m |
|
|
Project/Programme |
Anticipated Completion Date |
|
Haulbowline Block 8 Accommodation |
Q2 2022 |
|
Upgrade & Refurbishment of one building at McKee Barracks |
Q2 2022 |
|
Cadet School HQ- Defence Forces Training Centre |
Q2 2023 |
1017. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the engagement that he and his Department have had with Longford County Council regarding a permanent base for the Civil Defence in the county. [40879/22]
View answerThe Civil Defence Branch of the Department of Defence is charged with the management and development of Civil Defence at national level. The Civil Defence Branch provides policy direction, centralised training through the Civil Defence College, administrative support and guidance and centralised procurement of major items of uniform and equipment in support of local authority Civil Defence efforts.
Civil Defence is funded by way of a grant from the Defence Vote. Funding for Civil Defence operations at local level is shared on a 70/30 basis between the Department of Defence and local authorities by way of an annual grant to each authority.
It is the responsibility of each local authority to provide suitable accommodation for their local Civil Defence Unit. This is set out in the 2015 White Paper on Defence. While the provision of accommodation is the responsibility of the local authority, the Department of Defence has provided a contribution to support local authority efforts in providing new or upgraded accommodation for Civil Defence. For example in recent years the Department has provided some funding to support projects undertaken by Clare, Meath, Monaghan, Tipperary and Westmeath County Councils.
The Department of Defence has not received any approach from Longford County Council in respect of such funding. My officials are available to meet with the Council to discuss any proposals they have for providing improved accommodation for Longford Civil Defence.
1018. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence if any changes have been made to the three-person panel announced by him on 25 January 2022 in relation to the Independent Review into dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces. [40884/22]
View answerFollowing receipt of a proposal from the Independent Review Group, I recently approved the appointment of a fourth member to the Group.
Mr. Don Hegarty has taken up this position and I welcome him to the Review Group.
Mr. Hegarty holds Chartered Companion membership of the Chartered Institute of Professional Development (CIPD). He has 39 years’ experience in Human Resource Management with 25 of these spent at Director Level. He is a former member of the Employment Appeals Tribunal and has over 16 years’ experience in the provision of HR consultancy services.
1019. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence if the panel announced by him on 25 January 2022, in relation to the independent review into dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces has access to other professionals to provide support or specialist advice to the panel; if so, the terms for the positions of those persons; and their authority to put questions to those engaging in the review. [40885/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the work of the Independent Review Group is entirely independent in keeping with the Terms of Reference. I must therefore allow the Group full independence and autonomy to undertake its body of work, under its Chair, Ms Justice Bronagh O’Hanlon.
The Terms of Reference provide that it is open to the Review Group to conduct its business through oral and/or written engagement on a group basis and/or individual basis. The Review will include the receipt of the views and experiences from both current and former Defence Forces personnel of workplace incidents of unacceptable behaviour. The sharing of such views and experiences by interviewees will be entirely voluntary and treated in confidence.
To-date, I have received four monthly reports from the Chair of the Review Group outlining the progress of the Review. I look forward to further monthly reports, in line with the Terms of Reference, including any interim assessments or recommendations on addressing any issues arising which may require immediate action. In addition, it is expected that the six-month interim assessment will be submitted to me in the coming weeks.
In line with the Terms of Reference, the monthly reports and interim assessment will not be published. The final report which is to be presented to me at the end of the year, will be brought to Government, and will thereafter be published.
1020. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the engagement that he has had with his Department, representative bodies and the Minister for Health and the HSE regarding the payment of the pandemic bonus of €1,000 to the members of the Defence Forces who were on the front line during the Covid pandemic. [40894/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, on 19 January 2022, the Government announced a COVID-19 recognition payment for front-line public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The Government announcement also made provision for a pro-rata application of the payment.
The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021, and will be applied to those eligible public sector front-line healthcare staff (inclusive of agency staff working for the HSE) who worked in clinical settings. At Government level, the Department of Health has primary policy responsibility for this initiative and it is currently working on progressing the modalities of payments, for those non-HSE employees that are covered by this Government decision. It is also engaging with the relevant employers on the process to implement this measure for their eligible staff.
Certain redeployed members of the Defence Forces, who worked in front line COVID-19 exposed environments in the HSE, fall under the umbrella of eligibility regarding this payment. To this end, Officials in my Department have engaged with and will remain in regular contact with the Department of Health to discuss the roll-out of the PRP, for eligible DF personnel. It is important to note that ultimate interpretation of the scheme is a matter for the Minister for Health, with consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
At the appropriate juncture, once clarity on the sectoral modalities and implementation of the PRP to DF personnel has been finalised and received from the Department of Health, the Representative Associations will be duly consulted.
1021. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the actions and engagements that his Department has taken to date to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency in all buildings under his Department. [40907/22]
View answerIn 2009 the Government set a national target to improve energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. It set the public sector the more challenging target of improving its own energy efficiency by 33%. The Department of Defence met this target through several energy saving initiatives such as changing all lights inside and outside our buildings from halogen to light emitting diode (LED), installing passive infrared sensor motion detectors (PIR) on lighting throughout our buildings and switching away from kerosene oil for heating.
The Department is a member of OPW-Energy, participating in their state-wide staff energy conservation campaign titled Energy Optimising Power @ Work. The core principle of this campaign is to encourage staff behavioural change with regard to energy usage. The overall aim is to identify and eliminate energy wastage.
The Department established a Green Team. Staff members from different branches of the Department work together to ensure staff are reminded to power off office equipment such as monitors and PC’s at the end of each day.
The Department's Facilities Management Team monitor and update the Building Management System (BMS) daily and ensure that the heating is powered off for weekends and public holidays.
The Climate Action Plan 2021 provides a detailed plan for taking decisive action to achieve a 51% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and setting us on a path to reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050, as committed to in the Programme for Government and set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021.
The Department will continue to follow the Climate Action Plan 2021 in particular section 9 - Public Sector Leading by Example - as we work towards 51% reduction in overall greenhouse gases by 2030.
1022. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Defence if he will reinstate the arrangement between a sports club (details supplied) and James Stephen’s Barracks, County Kilkenny; and if he will expedite a positive decision. [40960/22]
View answerI am advised that the Club in question have had access to military facilities on a non-regularised and unlicensed basis. My Department, together with the Defence Forces, is actively considering the current request by the Club and my officials have been in direct communications with Club representatives on the matter. My Department will revert to the Club as soon as possible.
1023. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence if any analysis has been undertaken in respect of situating a naval base on the east coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41099/22]
View answer1024. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a copy of any report or reports that has been compiled in relation to any analysis undertaken in respect of situating a naval base on the east coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41100/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1023 and 1024 together.
My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government.
The Commission on the Defence Forces recently published their report that contained 69 main recommendations and together with sub recommendations there are 130 individual recommendations. The Government approved the High Level Action Plan which sets out the response of Government in relation to each of the 130 specific recommendations in the Commission’s report. Of the 130 individual recommendations 103 have been approved or approved in principle with the remaining 27 requiring further investigation.
The establishment of a naval base on the east coast was not one of the specific recommendations set out by the Commission in their report. However the report did state “The location of a support base on the west or east coast, for example, combined with double crewing of vessels, would facilitate ships remaining at sea for longer periods as they would no longer have to return to Haulbowline for replenishment and crew changeover.”
No decision has been made to locate a Naval Base on the east coast, however, I can confirm a Naval Service working group has commenced analysis and a report will be prepared in due course.
There is a long standing and ongoing tradition of Naval Service Ships using harbours and piers on the east coast for both shelter and shore leave. I am satisfied that the connection between the Naval Service and the maritime community on the east coast is an important and strong one that will continue to be developed.
1025. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence if he has received any gifts from visiting dignitaries; if he will provide a breakdown of the details of these gifts, their value, and the way they were disposed of; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41113/22]
View answerIn my capacity as Minister for Defence I have not received any gifts from visiting dignitaries.
1026. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence if he has received any gifts while travelling abroad; if he will provide a breakdown of the detail and value of these gifts and the way they were disposed of; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41131/22]
View answer1027. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence if he or his Department have given any gifts to visiting dignitaries; if he will provide a breakdown of the detail and the value of these gifts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41149/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1026 and 1027 together.
In my capacity as Minister for Defence I was presented with a wooden plaque whilst in Lebanon from that country's Minister of National Defence. This gift remains in my department's headquarters in Newbridge, Co. Kildare. I am unable to ascertain the value.
In my capacity as Minister for Defence I have not given any gifts to dignitaries visiting from abroad, nor has my Department.
