Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 June 2012
128 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Defence with regard to the value for money review of the Reserve Defence Force, if he will provide the number and duration of meeting held; the names and appointments of those conducting the review; the frequency of meetings held in 2012 and what output if any has been formulated to date. [30104/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force commenced in February 2010. In accordance with the appropriate guidelines, a Steering Committee was established to oversee the Review. This Steering Committee is comprised of representatives from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. A Working Group undertakes detailed analysis and prepares preliminary drafts for consideration by the Steering Committee. Since the commencement of the VFM Review there have been a total of ten Steering Committee meetings. On average, the duration of these meetings is of the order of approximately two hours. In addition, the Steering Committee have visited a Reserve summer camp in the Curragh and met with the Representative Associations. Certain members of the Steering Committee have also met with senior Reserve Officers. The membership of the Steering Committee (with replacements in brackets) is as follows:
Ms Mary Butler, Independent Chairperson(Until 22 February, 2012).
Mr. Robert Mooney, Principal Officer, Department of Defence.
Col. Colm Campbell, Director Strategic Planning Office, Defence Forces(Replaced by Col. Michael Meehan as Director SPO).
Ms Ann Price, Principal Officer, Department of Defence(Replaced by Ms Aileen Nolan, Principal Officer, Department of Defence).
Lt. Col. Tony Daly, Acting Director Reserve Defence Force(Replaced by Col. George Kerton, Director Reserve Defence Force, who was subsequently replaced by Lt. Col. Liam O’Carroll, Acting Director Reserve Force).
Mr. Dermot Quigley, Principal Officer, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Mr. Eoin Dormer, Central Evaluation Unit, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform(Replaced by Mr. Fiachra Kennedy, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform).
Mr. Tadhg O'Doherty, Assistant Principal Officer, Department of Defence(Secretary to the Steering Committee, replaced by Mr. Ciaran Desmond, Assistant Principal Officer, Department of Defence, who was subsequently replaced by Ms Valerie Byrne, Assistant Principal Officer, Department of Defence).
Ms Butler was unable to continue as Chairman and it is anticipated that a new independent Chairperson will be appointed to the Steering Committee in the near future. In the interim period Mr. Robert Mooney, Department of Defence, is acting as Chairman.
The Steering Committee has met on 3 occasions to-date in 2012, i.e. on the 22nd February, on the 3rd May and most recently, on the 6th June last. The next meeting is scheduled for July. Drafting of the Review is continuing and the Steering Committee are currently reviewing a number of draft Chapters. I have asked the Steering Committee to progress the Review as quickly as possible and I anticipate its completion by the end of September.
