Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

It is a matter for the Government and me as Minister for Defence in consultation with the Chief of Staff to make decisions on the reorganisation of the Defence Forces. It is not a matter for negotiation with the representative bodies. The correct legal approach was taken to provide for the reorganisation. When the arrangements proposed for it were agreed between the Secretary General of my Department and the Chief of Staff and the Cabinet was so informed, we immediately arranged for the representative bodies to be informed of the nature of the reorganisation. I fully accept that they have played a constructive role during the years and that there is the human element in undertaking the reorganisation and the impact it will have on individual members of the Defence Forces located in various parts of the country. That is a matter that will be discussed constructively and on which there will be engagement with the representative bodies.

On the issues raised by the Deputy, I do not envisage that we will be over budget at the end of the year. This is not about making additional savings; rather it is about living within our budget targets and using our resources in a wise way to ensure operational effectiveness within the Defence Forces.

Unfortunately, many misleading comments have been made. I have no wish to have a disagreeable exchange with the Deputy because they have not been made by him but by members of his party. He did make reference to the economic impact of the reorganisation, for example, in Athlone. He has in his party a Deputy who is running around telling people that there will be a reduction of 400 troops in Custume Barracks. He has led the charge on that issue in public meetings and was even a cheerleader for a protest held outside Leinster House one week ago. There are 1,050 members of the Defence Forces in Custume Barracks and I said all along that there would be approximately 1,000 members in Custume Barracks at the end of the reorganisation. The actual troop number in Custume Barracks as members of the Permanent Defence Force is 971. There are 35 civilians in Custume Barracks. In addition, there are exercising and training activities which impact on the numbers there which frequently will result in the number of members of the Army exceeding 971. No one could suggest in practical terms that a reduction of approximately 70 troops permanently located in Custume Barracks will have a dramatic impact in Athlone and that barracks playing a very important role within the Defence Forces as part of the reorganisation. In fact, Custume Barracks has the second largest number of troops, which is only exceeded by the number at Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin.

This reorganisation is in the interests of the country generally and the Defence Forces in order to maximise its capability. It will ensure we will have full units, with their appropriate specialties. In determining where specialties should be located I am very much informed by the advice of the Chief of Staff and those with the internal expertise to make these judgments. I thank the Deputy for raising what is an important issue and look forward to working with him in the coming months.

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