Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2019
103. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the details of each value for money and policy review conducted by his Department from 1 January 2018 to 1 January 2019; the cost of each exercise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43328/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe White Paper on Defence 2015, provides the strategic and comprehensive defence policy framework for the period up to 2025. This policy framework is designed to be flexible and responsive. It is within this context that the Government made a commitment to establish a fixed cycle of reviews, every three years, to give assurance that defence policy remains up to date and relevant to changing circumstances. The White Paper specifically provides that the first of these would be a White Paper Update. Work on the Update commenced in 2018 and is now very close to finalisation. Following Government approval, the Update will be published. Work on the Update has been carried out by civil and military personnel and, as such, no additional costs arise.
The White Paper also sets out Government policy on Civil Defence and, in September 2018, I announced a review of the roles and functions of Civil Defence. The outcome of the review will be a policy document titled "Towards 2030" and this will inform the commitment made in the White Paper to update Civil Defence legislation. The review process got underway in September 2018 and work is expected to be concluded in the coming months. As work has been undertaken by officials from my Department, there have been no additional costs involved in carrying out this review.
