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Defence Forces Veterans Associations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 November 2012

Wednesday, 7 November 2012

Ceisteanna (9, 34)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

9. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Defence if he envisages any support being provided from his Department for the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women in view of the assistance the organisation provides for former Defence Forces' personnel who are experiencing difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48457/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

34. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Defence the supports the State will provide to the needs of ex- Defence Forces members in difficulties and to organisations such as the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48465/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí ó Béal (7 píosaí cainte)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 34 together.

The Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women, ONE, which has enjoyed the long-standing official recognition of the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces, is an organisation dedicated to looking after the welfare of ex-service personnel of the Irish Defence Forces by way of providing accommodation to homeless, elderly or disabled members in need of such domestic accommodation and shelter and other assistance that may be required. ONE is a limited company with charitable status.

In recognition of the work that ONE undertakes on behalf of ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen, my Department provides to it an annual subvention of €40,000. This annual subvention is paid in quarterly instalments, subject to the submission by ONE of certified accounts. The funding is provided to support the general overheads of the organisation and expressly not for the provision of services that are provided to citizens, including members of ONE, from other arms of the State. This covers housing, health, social assistance, etc.

In addition to the funding provided to ONE, my Department also provides annual funding to a second officially recognised veterans association, the Irish United Nations Veterans Association, IUNVA. Membership of IUNVA, which was formed in 1990, is open to any person, serving or retired, who has successfully completed a tour of duty with a UN force or organisation.

Clearly, the work that ONE undertakes makes a very tangible difference to the lives of many former members of the Defence Forces each year. In this context, it is appropriate that I acknowledge the staff and board of directors of ONE and commend them on their ongoing hard work and commitment to the organisation over the years.

I thank the Minister for the answer. He is very well aware of the tremendous work done by ONE. There has for some time been a major housing centre in Dublin in which some 550 former soldiers - veterans – have been housed. There are also units in Athlone and Letterkenny, and there is a new drop-in centre in Limerick. It costs Mr. Ollie O'Connor, the chief executive, and his staff approximately €600,000 per annum to run the services for our veterans. Given the tremendous service they have given to the State and the United Nations, in Lebanon and many other theatres, maximum support must be provided. In this regard, the Minister said €40,000 was allocated by the Government.

Does the Minister consider it a key priority of his tenure to move forward with the provision of supports for veterans in terms of housing, education, health and sport and cultural issues? Every Member of this House is aware of the contribution these people have made to our country. Some of us have made representations on behalf of former soldiers with profound housing needs. A group of former Defence Forces personnel recently came together to establish a new veterans association, including a former colleague of ours in this building who was charged with our protection for many years. In the United States, the Veterans Association has done fantastic work over many years in the areas of education, housing and so on. There is a great deal more to be done in this State. Will the Minister return to Cabinet with a stronger case for the provision of support to the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women? My colleague, Deputy Willie Penrose, has raised this issue with the Minister on several occasions. The State must provide support to these people, particularly in the area of housing and education.

The bottom line is that this country is faced with substantial constrictions on its resources. There is no point in my pretending otherwise. I am obliged to fight my battle in Cabinet to ensure we have sufficient funding to maintain all of the Defence Forces' capabilities and meet our financial obligations to former members of the Defence Forces in regard to pensions, which are very substantial in the context of where we now stand. I was very pleased that we were able to maintain our support for ONE this year, as we did last year, and it is my intention that this support will continue. I am not in a position, however, to tell the Deputy that additional supports will be forthcoming. I would have to ask him to identify how the resources can be found to do so.

I identified those resources some weeks ago, but the Minister's party was not interested.

I am happy to hear the Deputy's proposals.

In regard to some of the services to which he referred, including housing, social welfare supports and a range of health services, it is important to note that they are provided by other Departments and other agencies. They could not and never have been replicated by the Department of Defence. I assure the Deputy, however, that ONE will continue to be supported. I greatly value and appreciate the work it has done in assisting individuals who have served with distinction in our Defence Forces, some of whom have since fallen on hard times.

Apart from ONE, there are several other organisations offering support to veterans. In fact, it seems that a new one is posited at least once a year. It simply is not possible for the Department to provide funding to all of them. It is certainly my intention, however, that funding for those organisations currently in receipt of it will continue.

As Deputy Tommy Broughan observed, one of the veteran housing units is located in Letterkenny, in my constituency, and I have seen the excellent service it provides. Representatives of ONE will, on the invitation of Deputy Willie Penrose, be in Leinster House next week to make a presentation. This will provide an opportunity to Deputies and Senators to learn about the services the organisation provides. Deputy Broughan says he has identified sources of funding that could support this work. Our party will keep the issue in mind in devising the alternative budget we intend to bring forward in the coming weeks. I ask the Minister to look at both sets of proposals in order to ascertain whether there is scope for additional funding for this body.

As I said, I greatly value the work done by ONE and similar organisations. I assure the Deputy that if I had some spare cash somewhere, I would happily provide additional supports. I cannot, however, make that type of commitment in the context of our overall expenditure position and the obligation on the State to spend €3.5 billion less in 2013 than we have spent in 2012. It is not open to any Minister to suggest there is an additional pot of money, and it would be irresponsible and misleading of me to do so. I am very anxious that we maintain existing supports to this organisation and I am very happy to hear anything it has to say to Members of this House. Nevertheless, it is vital that I do not mislead people in the very difficult financial and fiscal circumstances in which we find ourselves.

Written Answers follow Adjournment.
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