Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 6

Written Answers. - Air Corps and Naval Services.

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

163 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence if he has approved the implementation plans for the Air Corps and Naval Service; if so, if a date has been set for the plans to take effect; and if he will give details of those plans. [25010/99]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

The 1998 Price Waterhouse report on the Air Corps and the Naval Service set out a range of recommendations for more effective and efficient air and sea services. Some of these recommendations could be proceeded with fairly quickly while others would take longer to implement. It is important that the recommendations be implemented in a structured and coherent way that will contribute to the overall development of the Defence Forces as a whole. That is why, in October 1998, I directed the chief of staff to arrange for the general officer commanding the Air Corps and the flag officer commanding the Naval Service to submit implementation plans that would give effect to the effectiveness and efficiency recommendations in the Price Waterhouse report.

The draft implementation plans for both services were submitted to me in the last few weeks. These plans merit adequate consideration and they are currently being examined in detail in my Department.

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 ongoing development of these services, consistent with the needs of the State and those of the taxpayer.