Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:82 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department’s Estimate for 2010. [9190/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 24 February 2010
Ceisteanna (38)
Freagraí scríofa
Like other areas of the public service, the Defence Organisation will have to operate on a reduced budget for 2010, the details of which are set out in the Revised Estimates Volume for 2010. This was published on the 18th February. The gross total allocation for Defence in 2010 is €964m, comprising €755m in the Defence Estimate and €209m in the Army Pensions Estimate.
The Government is committed to maintaining the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at a level of 10,000 all ranks within available resources. The Defence Forces will continue to operate across all of the roles assigned by Government.
The investment in improved equipment and training made over the past few years means that the Defence Forces are in a healthy state both in terms of personnel and equipment to meet the challenges that lie ahead. They have improved in every respect since 2000 and comprehensive reform of structure and human resources, together with major investment in infrastructure and equipment, has been achieved during the past ten years.
In addition to savings of some €34m arising from the reductions in public service pay provided for in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009, further payroll savings of the order of €14m will be achieved by reduced Permanent Defence Force personnel numbers, reduced civilian employee numbers and lower levels of paid training days for the Reserve Defence Force.
Reductions in the number of Permanent Defence Force personnel deployed overseas to Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina will achieve savings of up to €7m, while reduced Naval Service patrol days and the optimisation of Air Corps flying hours will deliver savings of €2.2m.
The Coiste an Asgard sail training scheme is being discontinued, resulting in a saving of €0.8m.
Additional Appropriations in Aid of up to €13m are anticipated, mainly in respect of UN receipts, property sales, cash escorts and military guards. The scheme of full recovery for security services will be extended to An Post, the Central Bank and other organisations.
The 2010 capital expenditure allocation of €16m will be focused on new building works to improve the accommodation and facilities of the Defence Forces.
I am satisfied that priority programmes of investment in equipment and infrastructure can be maintained within the approved allocation.