Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is heading A15 on communication and IT. It is an area where we should be seeing increased spending year on year simply because of the changing nature of the environment in which the Defence Forces work.

I know we are under time pressure and I want to move ahead quite swiftly. With regard to medical care and support and the increase in the Estimate for litigation and compensation costs, when we look at this in comparison with A5, which is under Vote 35, regarding allowances for compensation payments, how does the Minister square this circle? We are seeing a decrease in allocation for medical and healthcare supports and an increase for litigation and compensation costs but we are not seeing an increase in the allowance for compensation payments. This is something that needs to be looked at again. With regard to these compensation costs and payments, what alternative non-adversarial models has the Department looked at to reach a quicker outcome that meets the needs of the person and the Department and limits the amount of money that needs to be spent on legal fees? Often, in my experience, resolution can be found much quicker and much more easily where there is active negotiation and communication.

The Minister mentioned briefly there has been an agreement with regard to an underspend being almost ring-fenced into defence and this is very positive. The Minister also mentioned buildings of historical significance. How much money is being allocated this year for barracks that are closed and for the maintenance of historic buildings to ensure they do not go to such a low level that essentially they are worthless or useless, or that we lose all of their historical aspects?