Vol. 501 No. 2
57 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence if he proposes to proceed with the reduction in numbers of personnel in the Air Corps to 930 all ranks, the transfer of personnel from Gormanston to Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, and the move of Air Corps headquarters from its present location in Park House to Baldonnel, without at the same time making arrangements for the modernisation of the aircraft fleet as recommended in the Price Waterhouse review. [5139/99]
The Government considered the Price Waterhouse reviews of the Air Corps and the Naval Service in the middle of last year. A planning and implementation process has been set in train to give effect to the Government's decision. The reviews of the Air Corps and the Naval Service must be seen in the broader context of the reorganisation of the Defence Forces generally. The Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan made specific provision for the special studies of the Air Corps and the Naval Service on the basis that the initial Price Waterhouse review had necessarily concentrated on the Army. Price Waterhouse's 1998 report on the Air Corps and the Naval Service sets out a range of recommendations for more effective and efficient air and sea services. Some of these recommendations can be proceeded with fairly quickly while others will take longer.
As with the reorganisation of the Defence Forces, the changes in the Air Corps and the Naval Service will be of a positive nature aimed at ensuring the on-going development of these services consistent with the needs of the State and those of the taxpayer. There is no question of being selective in a negative way with regard to the recommendations. It is, however, important that implementation of the recommendations is undertaken in a planned way having regard to the development of the Defence Forces as a whole. This is why I have asked the Chief of Staff in conjunction with the General Officer Commanding the Air Corps and the Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service to submit implementation plans for my consideration to give effect to the effectiveness and efficiency recommendations in the Price Waterhouse report.
In parallel, and as part of the general White Paper process, I have asked for a submission from the Chief of Staff to address the long-term air and sea requirements of the State which would form the basis of the longer term development of the Air Corps and Naval Service and which will be supported by the on-going effectiveness and efficiency measures. I understand a considerable amount of work has been done and I expect to receive draft proposals for my consideration in the near future. These proposals will include, inter alia, organisation, personnel, headquarters and options in relation to future equipment for both services.
I have also emphasised the importance of involving all of the relevant stakeholders in the process. I have, therefore, established a special consultation group to provide a forum for the input of the key stakeholders in relation to the State air and sea services. The consultation group, which I chair, comprises representatives from the civil and military branches of my Department, from the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Finance and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
The group has held one meeting at which I invited the stakeholders to make their inputs to the process and appropriate contacts have been made at official level to facilitate this. The group will meet again as the planning and implementation process develops. In addition, arrangements are in hand to ensure the Defence Forces Representative Associations are kept informed of on-going developments.
Does the Minister intend to postpone any decision on investment in the Air Corps fleet until the after the White Paper has been published or does he intend to take more immediate decisions on investment? Is he aware of the current state of the fleet? The fouga magisters go out of service completely next May and the alouettes are 36 years old while the rest of the fleet is more than 20 years old.
The Air Corps is in crisis as far as the fleet is concerned. What are the Minster's plans to address this? He appointed himself chair of the Price Waterhouse implementation group. The Price Waterhouse report said urgent investment in the Air Corps fleet was required. What are his plans in this regard?
It could be said I inherited a couple of problems from the past. While there was very little investment in these areas by previous Administrations, there is now much investment in the Defence Forces generally. It tends to be allocated to different areas at different times. Recently there has been a concentration of large investments on infrastructure, accommodation and equipment because too many installations were providing very poor accommodation and we were very deficient in equipment. In tandem with that there was a major investment in buying the new ship for the Navy while there was a significant earlier investment of £44 million in the Air Corps for the acquisition of the CASA aircraft, etc.
While there has been significant investment in the infrastructure and general equipment, there are outstanding problems which we will look at in the context of the implementation plan. I understand a draft is virtually ready to be presented to me on foot of a proposal I made to the Chief of Staff and from him to the flying officer in the Navy and the commanding officer in Casement Aerodrome. As soon as I have those proposals I will be in a better position to see to what extent we can meet that demand.
Additional resources will be available on foot of the voluntary early retirement scheme. We can look to positive developments regarding infrastructure and equipment for the future. I do not wish to go further at this stage.
Does the Minister intend that the next budget will allow for extra investment in the Air Corps? Does he accept that many of the morale problems in the Air Corps, including the difficulty in recruiting and keeping pilots are, in part, due to this lack of investment in modern fleet which in turn limits the work the Air Corps can do, for example, in search and rescue? Does he also accept that morale would be much better and recruitment would be easier if these issues were addressed and that a detailed plan for a replacement of the Air Corps fleet is a key demand if it is to operate efficiently and effectively in the coming months and years?
On the question of morale I have met members of the Defence Forces at all ranks. They are very spirited. While there are problems, I do not believe morale is low. Contracts amounting to £3.4 million were completed at Casement Aerodrome since 1996. Projects amounting to £1.5 million are in progress at present and there are projects in the pipeline to begin a £5 million investment in 1999.
The people in Casement Aerodrome see significant investment and developments and improvements all the time. There is no room for complaints regarding the lack of investment. The people there are getting on with their business. Outstanding problems will be resolved. There have been unprecedented developments with the accommodation, facilities and hangars. If morale is low now it must have been hopeless when the previous Government was in office.
They have to move planes around to keep them from the rain which leaks through hangar four. The Minister must not have visited the aerodrome recently. The conditions are bad in many areas and investment is required.
The Minister should not be dismissive about the problems. If he wants to preside over a viable Air Corps, investment in a modern fleet is required and working conditions need to be improved. When does he propose to move the headquarters and the Gormanston staff to Baldonnel? Is he satisfied that conditions there will allow for such movement in the short-term?
The relocation of Air Corps headquarters to Casement Aerodrome was a key recommendation of the Price Waterhouse report. It is good management to ensure that is effected. It is an indication of my commitment to the ongoing process of reform and development that I will continue to take decisions.
The Deputy accused me last year of doing nothing until the White Paper process was developed. When I prove I am taking action along the line she accuses me of taking action too early. She cannot have it both ways.
The Deputy is right that we need to continually improve the accommodation at all levels and we are doing that with substantial investment. As regards the accommodation being ready for the transfer from headquarters and from Gormanston, which is ongoing and should have taken place before now, there will be teething problems in getting that right. However, just as the Army responded to the improvement of accommodation for those members who needed it after the closure of barracks last year, I expect the same positive response from the Air Corps in Baldonnel. If the Deputy visits the Curragh in Kildare, she will meet all the soldiers who moved there and who are delighted with the way things have been done.
We are now out of priority time and we will take Question No. 58 in ordinary time.
