Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

The answer to the first question is "No". There will be no reduction in personnel. Some 635 troops and 46 civilian staff are being moved throughout the different barracks. The troops will be moved to the different barracks being organised for them. The civilian staff can accept redeployment if redeployment is available for them. At the moment I am discussing with the Department of Finance a scheme for voluntary redundancy if somebody would prefer to avail of that rather than be redeployed. It is quite possible that some of those civilian posts will not be filled. However, those people are entitled to stay in their jobs until they reach retirement age if that is their wish.

Various estimates have been made of the savings. It will release properties to be sold, but it is very difficult to sell them in the current climate. I understand that across the various subheads for maintenance, stores, lighting and heating, etc., there will be considerable savings. It will enable us to keep within the targets set for us by the Department of Finance for next year.

See this speech in context