Vol. 524 No. 5
135 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Defence the plans he has to reform the FCA in an effort to increase the number of recruits into its ranks; the total level of support provided by his Department to the FCÁ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19291/00]
The future plans for the FCA will be formulated within the framework of the White Paper on Defence and the report of the ministerial steering group.
Recruiting for the FCA is a continuing process. Advertising and other means of attracting recruits are used at both national and local level. In recent months a greater effort has been made to co-ordinate FCA recruiting measures with those of the Permanent Defence Force.
It is expected that the improved advertising and the extra training opportunities available this year and in the future will have the effect of attracting additional recruits into the Reserve Forces.
The provision for reserve training this year is £6.173 million. Moneys from other subheads applied to the reserve in respect of such items as clothing, transport, Permanent Defence Force cadre staff, accommodation and equipment would bring the overall budget to approximately £20 million in total.
Question No. 136 taken with Question No. 120.
137 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the number of appointments for NCOs currently vacant in the Permanent Defence Force; the steps that are being taken to ensure that these positions will be filled; when will they be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22992/00]
The tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report indicates the number of appointments for non-commissioned officers that were vacant as of 30 September 2000, the most recent date for which such figures are currently available from the military authorities. These figures provide a breakdown of the vacancies by rank for non-commissioned officers across each of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps. The figures for the Air Corps and Naval Service are based on the proposed new organisational structure.
|
(*a)BSM |
|
|
Authorised promotions |
11 |
|
Promoted to date |
9 |
|
(*b)BQMS |
|
|
Authorised promotions |
11 |
|
Promoted to date |
8 |
|
(*c)CS |
|
|
Authorised promotions |
57 |
|
Promoted to date |
44 |
|
(*d)CQMS |
|
|
Authorised promotions |
37 |
|
Promoted to date |
16 |
|
(*e)Sergeant |
|
|
Authorised promotions |
235 |
|
Promoted to date |
161 |
|
(*f)In addition, it should be noted that, in 1999, a total of 132 Privates were promoted to the rank of Corporal, while in 2000 to date, a total of 181 Privates have been promoted to the rank of Corporal. |
|
Army |
RSM |
BQMS |
CS |
CQMS |
Sgt |
Cpl |
Total |
|
Establishment |
34.00 |
37.00 |
139.00 |
251.00 |
1,118.00 |
1,802.00 |
3,381 |
|
Strength |
34.00 |
42.00 |
141.00 |
238.00 |
1,040.00 |
1,812.00 |
3,307 |
|
Vacancies |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
13.00 |
78.00 |
0.00 |
91 |
|
Surplus |
0.00 |
5.00 |
2.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
10.00 |
17 |
|
Naval Service |
WO |
SCPO |
CPO |
SPO |
PO |
LS |
Total |
|
Establishment |
6.00 |
7.00 |
78.00 |
15.00 |
235.00 |
196.00 |
537 |
|
Strength |
7.00 |
7.00 |
69.00 |
10.00 |
187.00 |
160.00 |
440 |
|
Vacancies |
0.00 |
0.00 |
9.00 |
5.00 |
48.00 |
36.00 |
98 |
|
Surplus |
1.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1 |
|
Air Corps |
RSM |
BQMS |
F.SGT |
FQMS |
Sgt |
Cpl |
Total |
|
Establishment |
7.00 |
4.00 |
43.00 |
15.00 |
139.00 |
204.00 |
412 |
|
Strength |
7.00 |
4.00 |
34.00 |
12.00 |
107.00 |
179.00 |
343 |
|
Vacancies |
0.00 |
0.00 |
9.00 |
3.00 |
32.00 |
25.00 |
69 |
|
Surplus |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0 |
138 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the steps that are being taken to regularise the position of personnel who have been absent without leave over a prolonged period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22986/00]
There are approximately 3,500 personnel currently registered as being illegally absent for periods in excess of one year. However, some of these cases were originally recorded as being illegally absent quite some time ago and, in some cases, as far back as 1945. It follows that many of these individuals would now in fact either be very advanced in years or be deceased.
An "illegal absentee" is anyone who is registered as being in excess of 21 days absent from the Defence Forces. On being registered as being illegally absent, notification is sent by the unit concerned to the Military Police and to the Garda inspector of the district in which the individual would normally reside.
Thereafter, in consultation with the Garda, the Military Police will visit the last known address of the individual and, if found, he/she will be detained by the Military Police and returned to his/her unit.
The procedure in military law with regard to such absentees is that a court of inquiry is held pursuant to section 147 of the Defence Act in respect of each such absentee. A record would exist in the service books of each unit to the effect that the person concerned had been declared to be absent without leave from a specific date. Pursuant to the provisions of section 135(2)(b) of the Defence Act, that person is also presumed to have deserted the Defence Forces.
There is a simple procedure available for long-term absentees to surrender themselves and for trial to be dispensed with. Furthermore a pragmatic approach is taken to the question of using powers against long-term absentees, particularly those who are advanced in years. The military authorities have pointed out that one must realise however, that due consideration will be given to the duration of the absence from the Defence Forces before recommending the dispensing of a trial.
