Vol. 480 No. 8
3 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the current strength of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps; the number of personnel recruited since 1 January, 1997; the steps, if any, he has taken to implement the commitment in An Action Programme for the Millennium to introduce a system of continuous recruitment to achieve a target of 1,500 personnel over the next four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15196/97]
The strength as of 31 August, 1997, of the Army, the Naval Service and Air Corps was 9,230, 1,096, and 985, respectively.
I recently arranged for an additional intake of 250 recruits this year and their enlistment took place during September. This brings the total intake of recruits since December to 800.
Additionally, the selection process for the award of 46 cadetships in 1997 is nearing completion and the new cadets will commence their cadet training shortly. A competition for the award of 17 apprenticeships will be advertised in the national newspapers commencing on Friday, 3 October.
It is the intention that in future recruitment will be on a more constant or continuous basis than heretofore having regard to the operational requirements of the Force and the overall level of wastage. I do not like the term "wastage"; "retirement" might be better in these politically correct times.
I asked this question because this is a time of great change for the Defence Forces due to the Price Waterhouse report's target figure of 11,000 members. It made wide-ranging recommendations which mean great change for the Defence Forces. Is the Minister concerned that the uptake of the early retirement scheme and the wastage in the last year have led to numbers being at such a critically low point as to make it difficult for the Army in particular to do its job? I am glad to hear the Minister plans to introduce continuous recruitment, but is he confident that numbers in place at the moment are sufficient to do the tasks in hand and that the numbers recommended in the report will be maintained?
The Deputy is correct in that the Defence Forces current strength is less than the target figure of 11,500, but they are well able to continue with their tasks. I see no serious problem in that regard.
The voluntary early retirement scheme has worked and I pay tribute to my predecessor, whose plan I am pursuing. It is my intention to continue with this first phase of the implementation plan, which, as the Deputy will be aware, is a three-year plan extending from 1996 to the end of 1998. The Defence Forces are well able to continue with the tasks that are given to them and I pay tribute to them for that.
Implementation plans and consultants' reports are constant worries to organisations at which they are aimed. As Minister for Defence I would like to think that I would not need to engage in further consultancy. I sometimes think the Defence Forces have been overburdened with consultants. I do not mean any disrespect to consultants when I say that — there is a place for them in the human race too. However, the best consultant to the Defence Forces is the Minister of the day and I would like to think that I could make any necessary judgments in regard to matters of this nature.
There has been much analysis of the Army and Defence Forces in general and it is now time to act on the recommendations made and provide the necessary supports for vital back-up and equipment to the Defence Forces and to ensure the numbers stay as they should be. I agree with the Minister when he says that backup rather than further analysis is necessary. However, at a time of change, various systems must be put in place to ensure that morale does not sink too low. I have some concerns about that.
As regards the numbers, the Minister says he is satisfied the Defence Forces can carry out the tasks in hand. I understand there are not sufficient junior officers at present and that there are some difficulties in terms of recruiting sufficient people for service overseas. There is something of a mismatch between the numbers of people currently in place and the places to which they are attached. This seems to be causing some strain. Will the Minister look at these issues and further examine the continuous recruitment issue in the light of some of these mismatches? Unfortunately, it may happen that the very plan which was intended to rejuvenate the Defence Forces, while perhaps acceptable in its broad outline, may in its implementation lead to serious difficulties.
Some 800 new recruits have been taken on since December last and I intend to continue apace with that recruitment programme.
As regards overseas service, the only area of concern which may have existed is in relation to UNIFIL in the Lebanon where, because of the age profile, people served quite a number of times and were becoming less than happy about the situation. That issue has since been resolved. Our service in the Lebanon has been nonpareil and has probably provided one of the greatest morale boosts to the country in its many years of service to the United Nations. The service provided by the Defence Forces has been commended and praised by many people and organisations throughout the years.
I would be glad to address the issue of junior officers if the Deputy could provide me with some details. I am not aware at this time of any complaints in that regard but I would be anxious to assist in stabilising the morale of that section of the Defence Forces if it is destabilised.
We have now exceeded the time for priority questions having only dealt with three; the Deputy should be brief in her comments.
Does the Minister intend that the voluntary early retirement scheme would be in place again this year and, if so, does he see it being directed at a convergence of personnel as opposed to the broader scheme which has been in place to date? That might prove useful.
The Deputy's suggestion is a good one and I would be happy to look at that possibility. In 1996 a total of 500 members of the Defence Forces availed of the voluntary early retirement scheme; these consisted of 61 officers and 439 unlisted personnel. Voluntary early retirement was granted to 735 personnel in 1997. I appreciate the Deputy bringing the issue to my attention.
As we have exceeded the time for priority questions, we must now proceed to ordinary questions. We can take priority Questions Nos. 4 and 5 during ordinary question time.
