Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 23 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 6

Written Answers. - FCA — Slua Muirí Personnel.

Michael Bell

Ceist:

85 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence the numbers of FCA and Slua Muirí officers commissioned, by Corps and Command, each year from 1984 to date; the date and location of the commissioning ceremony; whether any potential officers who have successfully completed their courses still await the award of their commission; if so, the numbers, corps and units involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[4207/95]

Minister for Defence (Mr. Conveney)

The information requested is set out in the following schedule. All personnel who successfully completed potential officers' courses have been appointed to commissioned rank.

Schedule

Date and Location of FCA and Slua Muirí Commissioning Ceremonies

21 February 1985	Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin
12 September 1985	Collins Barracks, Dublin
23 March 1986	McDonagh Barracks, Curragh Camp
17 May 1987	Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Galway
28 February 1988	Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick
10 June 1988	Kickham Barracks, Clonmel
21 May 1989	Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin
28 April 1991	McDonagh Barracks, Curragh Camp
3 May 1992	Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Galway
14 February 1993	Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick
21 November 1993	Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig, County Cork

Number of Officers Commissioned in an Slua Muirí

Year	Number	Command
1985	7	Eastern Group, 4; Southern Group, 3;
1988	6	Eastern Group, 4; Southern Group, 2;
1993	6	Southern Group, 5; Eastern Group, 1;

Number of Officers Commissioned in An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil

Year	Number	Command and Corps
1985	32	Eastern, 14; Southern, 6; Western, 11; Curragh, 1.
		Infantry, 23; Supply and Transport, 4; Artillery, 2; Cavalry, 1; Signals, 1; Military Police, 1.
1986	36	Eastern, 5; Southern, 7; Western, 13; Curragh, 11.
		Infantry, 24; Artillery, 10; Supply and Transport, 1; Military Police, 1.
1987	38	Eastern, 13; Southern, 12; Western, 11; Curragh, 2.
		Infantry, 25; Artillery, 4; Military Police, 4; Cavalry, 3; Supply and Transport, 1; Medical, 1.
1988	34	Eastern, 11; Southern, 7; Western, 13; Curragh, 3.
		Infantry, 21; Artillery, 6; Military Police, 2; Signals, 2; Cavalry, 1; Engineer, 1; Medical, 1.
1989	36	Eastern, 9; Southern, 8; Western, 12; Curragh, 7.
		Infantry, 25; Artillery, 6; Military Police, 3; Signals, 1; Medical, 3.
1991	30	Eastern, 12; Southern, 7; Western, 5; Curragh, 6.
		Infantry, 15; Artillery, 9; Military Police, 3; Medical, 1.
1992	22	Eastern, 7; Southern, 5; Western, 6; Curragh, 4.
		Infantry, 15; Artillery, 3; Engineer, 2; Signals, 1; Supply and Transport, 1.
1993	29	Eastern, 9; Southern, 9; Western, 7; Curragh, 4.
		Infantry, 19; Artillery, 6; Cavalry, 2; Medical, 2.
1994	2	Eastern, 1; Western, 1.
		Engineer, 1; Medical, 1.

Michael Bell

Ceist:

86 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence in respect of FCA and Slua Muirí command formation appointments, the establishment of appointments by command or service; the numbers currently vacant by command; the date of the longest vacancy; when it is proposed to fill such vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4208/95]

Minister for Defence (Mr. Conveney)

There are 11 appointments at command level which may be filled by FCA officers. The Eastern, Southern and Western Commands each has three appointments while the Curragh Command has two. Ten of the appointments are filled at present and only one vacancy exists.

Michael Bell

Ceist:

87 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence as at 31 December 1994, the number of cases in which he is a defendant in respect of proceedings initiated at Circuit or higher court level in respect of FCA and Slua Muirí which remain to be determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4209/95]

Minister for Defence (Mr. Coveney)

The number of compensation claims initiated against my Department on behalf of members or former members of the FCA and Slua Muirí and which remained to be determined as at 31 December 1994 was 46.

Michael Bell

Ceist:

88 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence the rates of initial and annual uniform allowances paid to officers of FCA and Slua Muirí; the nature and quantum of clothing issued at Exchequer expenses initially and annually to such officers; the number of officers serving in the Defence Forces at 31 December 1992, 1993 and 1994; and the amounts of initial and annual allowances paid in each year 1992, 1993 and 1994. [4210/95]

Minister for Defence (Mr. Coveney)

The current rates of initial and annual replenishment allowances payable to officers of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil and Slua Muirí are as follows:

	FCA	Slua Muiri
	£	£
Initial Uniform Allowance	230	445
Annual Replenishment Allowance	46	89

A person who has been, or who is about to be, appointed an officer of the Reserve Defence Force and assigned to the Reserve of Officers, An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil, or to the Reserve of Officers, An Slua Muirí, is issued with clothing, at public expense, in accordance with the scales set out in Statements "A" and "B".

The number of officers serving in the Defence Forces on 31 December in each of the years 1992, 1993 and 1994 was as follows:

	1992	1993	1994
Permanent Defence Force	1,576	1,578	1,558
An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil	712	713	681
An Slua Muirí	27	33	31

The payment of initial and annual replenishment allowances to officers of the Reserve Defence Force in each of the years 1992, 1993 and 1994 amounted to £101,000 approximately, made up as follows:

1992:	£
Initial allowance	4,600
Replenishment allowance	25,000
1993:
Initial allowance	4,700
Replenishment allowance	31,400
1994:
Initial allowance	6,000
Replenishment allowance	29,300

STATEMENT "A"

1. Articles of clothing issuable, subject to certain conditions, to persons who have been or are about to be appointed to be officers of the Reserve Defence Force for the purpose of assignment to the Reserve Defence Force for the purpose of assignment to the Reserve of Officers (An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil).

Article	Initial Issue	National Life — for replacement purposes
(1)	(2)	(3)
Cap with badge	1	3 years
Coat, waterproof	1	5 years
Gloves, brown	1	3 years
leather, pairs Pips	3	—
Shirts	2	2 years
Shoes, pairs	1	2 years
Socks, pairs	2	2 years
Ties	2	2 years

2. Certain other articles of clothing may also be issued, at public expense, to FCA officers, subject to conditions laid down in Defence Force Regulations.

STATEMENT "B"

1. Articles of clothing issuable, subject to certain conditions, to persons who have been, or are about to be appointed to be officers of the Reserve Defence Force and assigned to the Reserve of Officers (An Slua Muirí).

Articles	Initial issue	Notional life — for replacement purposes
(1)	(2)	(3)
Bags, clothing	1	12 years
Belts, waist, leather	1	12 years
Boots, heavy, black, pairs	1	3 years
Braces, pairs	1	3 years
Caps, cloth, with peak and badge	1	3 years
Coats, waterproof	1	5 years
Collars	4	2 years
Covers, cap, marcelline	2	2 years
Field Dressings	1	—
Gloves, leather, pairs	1	3 years
Lanyards	1	3 years
Overalls	1	3 years
Shirts, cloth	2	2 years
Shoes, black, pairs	1	3 years
Shoes, gymnasium, pairs	1	3 years
Socks, black, pairs	2	12 months
Ties	1	2 years

2. Certain other articles of clothing may also be issued at public expense to officers of An Slua Muirí, subject to conditions laid down in Defence Force Regulations.

Michael Bell

Ceist:

89 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence the number of officers of the FCA and Slua Muirí, separately, who retired on age grounds for each year 1990 to 1994; the number who resigned their commissions for each year from 1990 to 1994; the number whose commissions were withdrawn on advice to the President in each year 1990 to 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4211/95]

Minister for Defence (Mr. Coveney)

The information requested is set out in the following schedule.

SCHEDULE

Number of Officers who retired on age grounds

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil	16	15	18	18	20
An Slua Muirí	0	0	3	0	1

Number of Officers who resigned their Commissions

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil	5	14	16	11	12
An Slua Muirí	0	0	1	0	1

Number of Officers whose Commissions were relinquished

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil	3	0	4	0	4
An Slua Muirí	0	0	0	0	0

Michael Bell

Ceist:

90 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence the number of personnel, differentiated as between FCA and Slua Muirí and by Command, who were posted non-effective in each year from 1990 to 1994; and the number differentiated as between FCA and Slua Muirí, who were discharged on termination of effective engagement and at their own request for each year 1990 to 1994. [4212/95]

Minister for Defence (Mr. Coveney)

The information requested is set out in the following schedule.

SCHEDULE

Number of Personnel Posted to Non-Effective Strength*

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil	974	722	678	687	609
An Slua Muirí	67	63	62	28	109

*A breakdown of the figures by Command is not readily available.

Number of Personnel Discharged from Effective Strength

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil	2,559	2,013	2,033	2,673	2,327
An Slua Muirí	24	34	25	28	31