Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 4

Written Answers - Defence Forces Reorganisation.

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

84 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence his views on the Chief of Staff's recent statement to the PDFORRA annual delegate conference that if current constraints such as voluntary early retirement did not facilitate convergence of rank and place, no barrack closures in phase 1 and no geographic transfer of personnel as units are amalgamated or disestablished, an increase in the overall Defence Forces number of 11,500 will be necessary to administer and maintain existing barracks and posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18239/97]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

In July 1995, the Government accepted the broad conclusions of the efficiency audit group that a phased programme of reorganisation of the Defence Forces should begin immediately. As part of that reorganisation, the Government set an overall objective of reducing Defence Forces strength to 11,500 by the end of 1998. The implementation plan for phase 1 of the reorganisation of the Defence Forces, adopted by the Government in March 1996, was drawn up on the basis that no barrack closures would take place during that phase.

The question of changing the strength of the Permanent Defence Force is a matter for the Government and there are no proposals to revise this strength, at this time.