Tuesday, 20 Jun 2017

Defence Forces Personnel Data

Ceisteanna (2286)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

2286. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of persons in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27623/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

The following table sets out the current strength (Whole Time Equivalent) of the Permanent Defence Force across the three branches, as of the 30 th April, 2017 (the latest date for which figures are available):

Branch	Current Strength
Army	7,290
Air Corps	707
Naval Service	1,065
Total	9,062

The Government is committed to maintaining the establishment of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service as stated in the 2015 White Paper on Defence. On an ongoing basis, the manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services. As there is significant turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force targeted recruitment has been and is currently taking place so as to maintain the agreed strength levels. As with other areas of the public service, challenges have arisen in relation to the recruitment and retention of personnel in particular areas of expertise.

I am advised by the military authorities that their planned target is to induct approximately 850 new entrants to the Defence Forces across all services and competition streams in 2017. A new General Service Recruitment campaign was launched on 23 February 2017 and the 2017 Cadetship competition was launched in March 2017. Direct Entry Competitions are also held as required from which specialist appointments are filled. An Air Corps apprentice class was also inducted in March 2017.

Promotions are ongoing within Officer ranks in order to fill rank vacancies. A new NCO promotions competition to fill vacancies to the ranks of Sergeants and above has been launched from which promotions will commence in Q3 2017.

I remain committed to increasing recruitment to the Defence Forces and it is my intention that targeted recruitment will continue to be carried out within the resource envelope allocated to Defence and in the context of the policy parameters on recruitment set out in the White Paper on Defence.

Defence Forces Recruitment

Ceisteanna (2287)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

2287. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when the Defence Forces will be accepting applications for cadets and general service personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27625/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service personnel, as stated in the 2015 White Paper on Defence. The manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services. As there is significant turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force targeted recruitment has been and is currently taking place so as to maintain the agreed strength levels. I am advised by the Military Authorities that the Defence Forces are planning to induct 850 new entrants across all services and competition streams in 2017. The 2017 Cadet Competition was launched on 22 Mar 2017 for four weeks with a closing date of 18 Apr 2017. The competition has now progressed through the Application stage to the Assessment Centre stage which involves Group Assessment, Fitness Tests and a Realistic Job Preview. Cadet inductions are planned to take place in September 2017.

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

Primary responsibility for the internal security of the State rests with the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence (2015) is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to provide assistance and support to An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. The Army Ranger Wing (ARW) are the Special Operations Forces of the Defence Forces. In this context, the ARW are trained and equipped to undertake a range of specialist roles.

The White Paper on Defence (2015) sets out the capability agenda for the Defence Forces for the next decade. It contains a commitment to further enhance the capabilities of the ARW. Work to identify a range of options in this regard is ongoing as part of the implementation of the White Paper.

Pension Provisions

Ceisteanna (2293)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

2293. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 668 of 11 January 2012, in relation to a person (details supplied) who suffered severe PTSD during their time on active duty for the defence forces in the 1970s and owing to poor mental health did not apply for their army pension within the statutory deadline, if he will review all of the documentation on file within his Department regarding this persons application; and as part of that review if he or one of his officials will meet with the person to discuss the case with a view to granting a retrospective military pension on exceptional grounds. [28629/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

The Army Pensions Acts provide for consideration of claims in respect of a disablement due to:

(a) a wound or injury attributable to service in the Defence Forces, provided that the application is made within a year from the date of discharge from the Defence Forces;

(b) disease attributable to, aggravated by, accelerated or excited by overseas service with a United Nation Force provided that the application is made within eight years from the date of discharge from the Defence Forces.

The above time limits for making an application are statutory deadlines and there is no discretion in the Acts to extend them.

My officials have further reviewed the case of the individual referred to in the Deputy’s question.

Unfortunately, the position remains that the time limits are set out in the Army Pensions Act and there is no discretion in the legislation to extend them. In the circumstances, it is not open to me to accept an application at this stage in this case. Even if it were possible to do so, it would be extremely difficult, some 38 years after his discharge, to establish the required causal link between his medical condition and his military service.

I regret I cannot be of more assistance. In the circumstances, I do not feel that a meeting would serve any purpose.

State Bodies Code of Conduct

Ceisteanna (2294)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

2294. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if all State bodies under the aegis of his Department have furnished a report confirming the State body has complied with its obligations under tax law for 2015 and 2016 as required under the code of practice for the governance of State bodies; the action which was taken regarding those bodies that did not submit such requests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28666/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

The only State body currently under the aegis of the Department of Defence is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board does not have its own budget; all expenditure and financial transactions relating to it are administered by my Department through the Army Pensions Vote, Vote 35.

Army Barracks

Ceisteanna (2295)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

2295. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if sewerage and waste water from all buildings within a barracks (details supplied) in County Galway is connected into the Galway city sewerage system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28796/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

Sewerage and waste water from all buildings in Dún Ui Mhaoilíosa (Renmore) Barracks, Galway are connected into the Galway City sewerage system.

The Department of Defence in a licence agreement dated 4 February 1975 permitted Galway County Council to lay a sewer through Department lands adjacent to Dún Ui Mhaoilíosa (Renmore) Barracks, Galway. In accordance with the terms of the licence, Galway County Council is fully responsible for the sewer.

Departmental Staff Relocation

Ceisteanna (2296)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

2296. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of staff under the remit of his Department who have applied to be transferred to Department or State agency offices located outside the Dublin region in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; the estimated average cost incurred for each staff member that relocated outside the Dublin region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29035/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

The Department of Defence is largely a decentralised Department with offices in Newbridge, Galway and Roscrea. The Department does not hold specific details in relation to staff who may be seeking to transfer from the Department to other locations.

Departmental Staff Data

Ceisteanna (2297)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

2297. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of staff employed in his Department and in each State agency under the aegis of his Department, by county, in tabular form. [29250/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

I can confirm that the number of civil servants in my Department including State Boards and/or Agencies, by county, as at 29 May 2017 is as follows:

County/Location	Number of Civil Servants
Co. Kildare	168
Co. Galway	134
Co. Tipperary	26
Dublin City	12
Co Cork	2
Total staff by county:	342

In addition, 5 staff are serving in Brussels, bringing the total number to 347 as at 29 May, 2017.