Billy Timmins
Ceist:39 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has for the development of the 21st Infantry Battalion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17522/00]
Other Questions. - Defence Forces Reserve.
The overall strategy for the development of the Reserve Defence Force is based on the report of a special steering group established by me in January 1998. The group produced its report in September 1999 and the recommendations contained in it have been accepted as a general basis on which the development of the Reserve Defence Force can proceed. I plan to publish the steering group report in due course. I am satisfied that an in-depth study of the Reserve has now been undertaken involving a considerable amount of work by both a military board which was set up by the Chief of Staff and the steering group.
The steering group met with each of the Permanent Defence Forces representative associations, who made presentations to the group regarding their areas of concern, and it met on three occasions with the Reserve Defence Force representative association which also made presentations to the group.
The recent White Paper on defence, which was approved by Government on 20 February, recognised that a feature of the existing FCA organisation is that it has a countrywide geographical spread which will in general be retained. The full organisational and establishment details of the new Reserve Force will be determined in the implementation process which will consist of the development of a Reserve Defence Force review implementation plan based on the steering group's report. The implementation of the structural and reorganisation changes will take place over a period of six years.
There will be a requirement for the military authorities to consider and recommend detailed proposals for the restructuring of Reserve units within each brigade area and I am advised by the military authorities that such proposals are being drawn up at present. Pending completion of the Reserve Defence Force review implementation plan, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the future role of the 21st Infantry Battalion.
Captain Timmins is reviewing the troops in Clonmel today.
He is certainly well equipped to do that.