Vol. 505 No. 2
8 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Defence the additional resources, if any, which have become available to date on foot of the early retirement scheme; the way in which these resources have been used for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9271/99]
Commencing in 1999, there will be estimated net savings of £15 million a year arising from the voluntary early retirement scheme. It has been agreed that half of these savings will be made available to provide additional funding for equipment and infrastructural programmes for the Defence Forces. Over the next five years, these savings will also be used to fund the purchase of armoured personnel carriers.
Will the £15 million be dedicated completely to Defence Forces resources?
The savings will be approximately £15 million. I understand the agreement is that half that sum will be dedicated to the purposes I outlined.
It will involve £7 million a year.
Yes.
Is the Minister indicating that the savings will be £15 million per annum of which half will be devoted to equipment and restructuring?
Yes.
The Minister said that half the sum which will be available for equipment will be used for the acquisition of armoured personnel carriers. Will he indicate the approximate unit cost of the vehicles?
My recollection is that they cost approximately £1 million each. I would like to accelerate that programme but it will depend on other competing considerations. If it was possible to progress the sales and we got as much as land prices indicate at present, the programme could be accelerated.
The Minister should put the boot down.
When will a decision be made with regard to the type of armoured personnel carrier in which the Defence Forces will invest? If the situation in the Lebanon develops as the Minister outlined earlier and as the changed position in Israel suggests, there will be a need to accelerate the programme because Ireland will need its own APCs and equipment in future peace-keeping missions. Would the Minister consider an accelerated programme of investment in armoured personnel carriers?
Yes. I do not want to pre-empt negotiations and discussions on these matters, but I would like to fast track some of the programme. At present we are in the process of determining for which of the two APCs we will seek final tenders. We should take one step at a time but I am anxious to find a way to accelerate the programme.
