Monica Barnes
Ceist:52 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Defence the rate of progress of the implementation plan in the Defence Forces; and the current plans, if any, there are to ensure completion of the implementation plan [12933/98]
Written Answers - Defence Forces Review.
The Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan, 1996-1998 was adopted by Government in February 1996. The implementation process is ongoing and it is expected that the first phase of the implementation plan will be completed by the end of 1998.
I am very satisfied with the rate of progress of the implementation plan. In the past three months, the third and final phase of a scheme of voluntary early retirement for personnel of the Permanent Defence Forces has been introduced, the report of the studies of the Air Corps and Naval Service has been published, the Defence Act 1954 has been amended and the Government has approved the closure of a number of military barracks.
The momentum for reform of the Defence Forces will continue both through the White Paper on Defence which will be completed next year and through the implementation plans to be drawn up shortly for reorganisation of the Air Corps and Naval Service.