asked the Minister for Defence the number of soldiers serving at the Curragh Camp who resigned from the Defence Forces after minimum period of three years in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Curragh Camp Resignations.
12.
The numbers of non-commissioned officers and men at the Curragh Camp who were discharged on completion of three years' service in the years 1974-1978 are as follows:—
|
1974 |
— |
14 |
|
1975 |
— |
48 |
|
1976 |
— |
33 |
|
1977 |
— |
59 |
|
1978 |
— |
100 |
|
Total |
254 |
Does the Minister agree that the number is getting higher? Would he have any reason for that?
The figures indicate that the numbers discharged have increased. That answers the first part of the Deputy's question. A number of reasons could be given as to why that has happened. One is that the availability of employment in the economy generally has improved substantially and that has had its effect. Also, a large number of men came to the end of their three-year enlistment period in the years 1977 and 1978. When one looks at the percentages they show a deterioration, but it is not as rapid as the actual figures would appear to indicate. The percentage of NCOs and men discharged from the Curragh Camp on completion of their three-year period in 1976 was 24.26 per cent; in 1977, 29.06 per cent; and in 1978, 33.22 per cent. I am not satisfied with the figures or complacent about them. That is the very reason I initiated the recruitment campaign. There are quite a substantial number of vacancies in the Defence Forces, which was the reason for the major recruitment campaign which got under way recently.
Would the Minister not agree that the rising numbers, even previously to his Ministry, would indicate some dissatisfaction with conditions? If he thinks this is true, would he try to initiate some improvement in living conditions and so on? I am sure the Minister will agree that a soldier trained for three years is a better prospect than a new recruit.
I am sure the Deputy is aware, as I have mentioned on a number of occasions in the House, that this situation will not be corrected overnight, that it is an on-going programme. The Deputy will accept that conditions have improved greatly over the past seven, eight or ten years. There has been a very rapid improvement. The estimates from my Department in the last few years show a very substantial increase in the sums provided by this Government to accelerate improvement in conditions in the Defence Forces. Pay has been increased very substantially over the past two years. There is a major building programme under way at present and I certainly will use all the resources available and make every effort to get improvements made as soon as possible.
Would the Minister agree that conditions appertaining to special duties might have an effect on this? Special duties have to be done—all of us, including the soldiers, accept that—and some have to be done in Portlaoise without any financial reward to the soldier.
I do not know how much in touch the Deputy is with the Defence Forces, but the allowance given to members of the Defence Forces carrying out duties at Portlaoise has been trebled by me since I came into office and the remuneration paid to these men has vastly improved on the small sums paid to them about two years ago.
The cost of living has trebled since then. May I ask the Minister, arising out of his replies, if the resignations from the Curragh are higher than elsewhere?
I have not got the details at present.
I wondered if elsewhere there was the same problem about soldiers from the Curragh Camp attempting to keep in touch with their families and finding it very difficult to do so and if that was the cause for the resignations from the Curragh Camp?
I am sure the Deputy is aware that the employment prospects in the Kildare area have improved very substantially in the past 12 to 18 months and there are major industries opening in that area in the foreseeable future and huge buildings under construction. This has an effect on resignation from the Army. That is not the only factor.
Some industries are closed.
We are talking about the Kildare area, a full employment area.
Could the Minister name one new factory in Kildare?
Is there a special problem in the Curragh as far as Army recruitment is concerned? Are the figures for the Curragh in general higher than the national average?
In answer to the Deputy's question, an average for the Army in general is higher elsewhere than in the Curragh. That is the reason for the present recruiting campaign.
So much for the factories.
In County Kildare.
I would hope that all Deputies would support fully the present recruiting campaigns.