Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 13 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 3

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Strength.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

118 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the structures in place regarding the Army personnel unit at Haulbowline, County Cork; the facilities available to the unit; the barracks to which the unit is attached; if the attachment to the base is long-term; the promotional prospects available to the personnel there; the number of members and their rank; the line of command in place; and the linkage between the Naval Service and Army personnel at the base. [4867/02]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith):

The following Army personnel which are shown on the strength of their respective units in Collins Barracks, Cork are currently attached to the Naval Service:

Medical Corps	1
Commandant, Medical Officer	1
Military Police Corps	6
Company Sergeant,	1
Corporals	5
Corps Of Engineers	5
Commandant, Engineer Officer,	1
Company Quartermaster Sergeant,	1
Corporal, Electrician,	1
Private, Electrician,	1
Private, Carpenter	1
Ordnance Corps	18
Commandants, Ordnance Mechanical Engineers,	2
Sergeants, Armament Artificers,	3
Sergeants, Armament Artificers Instrument,	2
Sergeant, Ammunition Examiner,	1
Sergeants, Line,	2
Corporals, Armament Artificers,	2
Corporal, Armament Artificers Instrument,	1
Corporal, Line,	1
Privates, Armament Artificers,	3
Private, Armament Artificers Instrument,	1
Grand Total	30

The length of attachments to the Naval Service of these personnel vary, but most have been attached for lengthy periods. In accordance with Defence Force regulations, all attachments are under the command of the Naval Service. The future of these personnel is being dealt with in the context of the reorganisation of the Naval Service. Those for whom a suitable vacancy exists will be invited to apply for transfer into the Naval Service. As this involves a transfer from one service/corps to another, the provisions of section 61(2) of the Defence Act applies, that is, transfer can only take place if the person concerned consents to such transfer.

The methodology for dealing with this issue was a matter for discussion between all interested parties, including the representative associations during 2001. As a result of these discussions, the deputy chief of staff, support, issued a letter of instruction entitled Reorganisation of the Naval Service, Service Support Corps Arrangements, which lays down the principles and procedures to deal with the relationship between the various Army service support corps and the Naval Service and the future of the personnel of these corps current serving attached to the Naval Service. It is expected that these personnel will apply for transfer to the Naval Service and will be assigned to appointments with the Naval Service by the assignment board which has recently been set up to deal with such matters. The facilities which are available to Naval Service personnel at Haulbowline are also available to these Army personnel.

Army personnel can only apply for Army promotional competitions. However, if these personnel transfer to the Naval Service, they will then become eligible to apply for Naval Service promotional competitions.

Question No. 119 answered with Question No. 79.

Question No. 120 answered with Question No. 44.

Question No. 121 answered with Question No. 92.

Question No. 122 answered with Question No. 88.

Question No. 123 answered with Question No. 38.

Question No. 124 answered with Question No. 50.