Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have not given any consideration to extending the number of days for which this relief can be availed. In the engagements I have had with the Department of Defence, no case for any significant change in the relief was made to us. I remember that, when we initially brought in this relief on Report Stage a number of years ago, we did so in the hope that it would be temporary and that we would begin to see an improvement in the availability of personnel for our Naval Service. Unfortunately, for a number of different reasons, that has not turned out to be the case. However, given that the cost of the overall scheme, between €300,000 and €500,000, is very moderate in the context of all of the reliefs we have had, I am going to extend it in the way I have indicated to the committee. However, no proposal for a significant change to the number of days has been raised with me. I have not been called upon to make such a change by my colleagues in the Department of Defence.