Vol. 487 No. 7
15 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself with the terms and conditions of remuneration in the Naval Service; his views on the numbers leaving the service; and the plans, if any, he has to improve the situation. [5000/98]
56 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself with the terms and conditions of remuneration in the Naval Service; his views on the numbers leaving the service; and the plans, if any, he has to improve the situation. [4820/98]
150 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself with the terms and conditions of remuneration in the Naval Service; his views on the numbers leaving the service; and the plans, if any, he has to improve the situation. [5268/98]
199 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself with the terms and conditions of remuneration in the Naval Service; his views on the numbers leaving the service; and the plans, if any, he has to improve the situation. [5234/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 56, 150 and 199 together.
Under the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1990, matters relating to pay and allowances come within the scope of representation of the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, and the Representative Association for Commissioned Officers, RACO, and may be processed through the conciliation and arbitration scheme for the Permanent Defence Force which was established in agreement with the associations. The question of the rates of patrol duty allowance payable to members of the Naval Service has been raised by the associations under the terms of the conciliation and arbitration scheme. Under the terms of the scheme, as agreed with the associations, discussions on claims which are being processed are confidential and, therefore, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.
During the period December 1996 to January 1998, 91 non-commissioned personnel left the Naval Service, some having transferred to other areas of the Permanent Defence Force. A total of 104 non-commissioned personnel were recruited to the Naval Service during the same period. A total of 15 officers have left the Naval Service since 1996, while a total of 13 naval cadetships have been awarded during the same period.
Is the Minister concerned that the Naval Service cannot be serviced in the way it should due to the lack of staff? What further action does he intend to take to deal with this problem? My colleague has given examples which show that under-staffing may have implications in terms of safety and morale. Will the Minister agree that staff are being asked to carry out onerous duties due to the shortage in the number of personnel and have to spend longer periods at sea, etc?
This can happen. The number of personnel in the Naval Service has been reasonably consistent for some years. The number of personnel joining the service approximates the number leaving it. Notwithstanding recruitment programmes in recent years, we have not been able to make a gain in terms of personnel. I will look at the recruitment programme and its effect on the Naval Service when I receive the report.
It is proposed to purchase a new ship and additional personnel will be required to man it. Advice I have received suggests different structures for manning ships. The one thing that is certain is that we need increased numbers to deal with the problems in the service. This matter must be addressed.
I would hate to think we have to walk fast merely to stand still in terms of the number of staff. We need to recruit additional staff and to retain the maximum number possible in the service. These people have been trained and have gained much experience over the years. An amazing amount of training is required to gain the necessary expertise for some positions.
There will be a vacuum in this area until the Price Waterhouse report is published. I welcome the Minister's statement that the report will be published in early March. I wish to make a suggestion——
I would prefer if the Deputy asked a question.
My point relates to the number of specialist staff, for example, pilots, computer staff etc., who are leaving the Naval Service. Will the Minister set up a specialist group to examine how this is dealt with in other areas of the Defence Forces? This matter requires urgent attention in addition to the publication of the Price Waterhouse report.
We are in the process of finalising the new pay arrangements and allowances and ironing out other difficulties, for example, the promotional ladder, which needs to be built up, and the constant recruitment of personnel. However, one cannot prevent people from seeking opportunities in other areas which have been developed as a result of the Celtic tiger. At Baldonnel Airport six applications have been processed and agreed, while another eight are in hand. The aviation industry and other industries have grown in recent years and there are more opportunities available. We need to keep trained personnel in the service but they also have the right to seek employment in areas where they can use their talents to best advantage.
Will the Minister, in conjunction with the Minister for Education and Children, introduce a programme in schools which highlights the opportunities available in the Naval Service? An advertisement in the newspapers is not adequate in terms of engendering the excitement that is the Naval Service. Will the Minister discuss with the Minister for Education and Science the feasibility of introducing in schools a programme which will encourage students to apply for positions in the Naval Service?
I assure the Deputy that I will not rely on an advertisement in the newspapers to recruit personnel to the Defence Forces. I support the points made by him. I want to ensure that the recruitment programme is aimed at second level students and is carried out in such a way that it highlights the attractiveness of a career in the Defence Forces.
To be engaged in high profile advertising in the national newspapers for recruitment of this kind is a waste of taxpayers' money. It should be more specifically oriented to second level students on an ongoing basis now because we know there will be consistent recruitment.
It comes back to being able to solve the problems of reorganisation which exist in the service because of people's choices. They have a range of choices, which is great for them but that causes its own pressures for some of us.
Will the Minister agree that part of the problem in the Naval Service has to do with the fact that an army structure is imposed on the service? Will he also agree there are certain social problems attached to the Naval Service? What is his Department doing to support and look after the families of members? Does it understand the social and specific family problems associated with the Naval Service?
Is there a promotion board examining promotion from ordinary ranks to officer rank at present? When will that board report?
I understand that the difficulty in the Naval Service is with regard to the seagoing allowance which works out at between £12 and £16 per day depending on rank, which ends up at approximately between £6 and £8 per day after tax. Will the Minister consider increasing this allowance?
Incidentally, it always struck me as unusual when Spike Island was handed over to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform that, in addition to security costs, the Naval Service accommodation had to be upgraded before the prisoners went into it.
The Deputy will be happy to know we are continuing to upgrade facilities in Haulbowline for the Naval Service. I laid the foundation stone recently for a £2 million investment there.
I will report back to the Deputy with information on any promotion board sitting at present. My guess is that in relation to general reorganisation very little of any significance is happening but I undertake to check up on it.
The social aspect, to which Deputy Stanton referred, is very important. We are probably only at the very early stages of developing qualified counselling personnel to deal with the kinds of difficulties which can arise and to liaise with the families.
Deputy Timmins is correct that there is a problem with the seagoing allowance, which is now called "the patrol allowance". We are engaged with the representative association on how we can increase that in the overall pay deal.
I have had the opportunity to meet some of the counselling services. The question of how we must address the problem is bigger than we thought. We are learning every day about personnel management and the importance of coping with the problems which arise in different professions. We are getting better at it, but there is certainly room for improvement.
