Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 14 and 20 together.

Again we are coming back to the issue Deputy Ó Fearghaíl raised earlier. I am sure Members will not be surprised to hear me say that I absolutely reject the claim of the former president of PDFORRA. The Government remains committed to maintaining the capacity and capability of the Defence Forces to undertake the roles assigned by Government within an establishment of 9,500 serving personnel. Against that background, I tasked the Secretary General of the Department and the Chief of Staff to bring forward proposals for a reorganisation of the Defence Forces. Having considered the matter in detail, I accepted the proposals of the Secretary General and the Chief of Staff that the Army component of the Defence Forces be reduced from a three-brigade to a two-brigade structure. A three-brigade structure, which had originally been designed for a force of 11,500, could not be sustained in the context of maintaining numbers at 9,500 without impacting on the capacity of the Defence Forces to deliver the services required by Government. A reorganisation of the Air Corps and Naval Service within their reduced strengths as set out in the employment control framework is also being finalised as part of the reorganisation.

Crucially, the representative associations in the Defence Forces, including PDFORRA, have been closely engaged in the implementation planning process as part of the Croke Park agreement and have had significant input into the planning of the ongoing implementation process. A detailed implementation plan, which has been the subject of extensive consultation with the representative associations, has been finalised and issued to formation commanders and made available to all members of the Defence Forces. This plan sets out the assignment criteria for members of the Defence Forces whose current appointment is directly impacted by the reorganisation. These criteria cover such areas as whether the individual holds the rank of the appointment in question, has the required qualifications, had to change station due to barracks closures in the past four years and his or her length of service in the Defence Forces.

Training requirements arising from the reorganisation will only become fully apparent as personnel are allocated appointments in the new structure. Relevant military personnel, in conjunction with the directorate of Defence Forces training staff, are identifying the skills gaps resulting from the reorganisation and reassignment process as it is being implemented. Detailed planning for the training effort required will be incorporated into the development of the 2013 annual training directive. The training plan will be structured such that it can be delivered within the training resources available at formation level and within the Defence Forces training centre. The plan is to fully complete all retraining and reskilling requirements arising from the reorganisation within an 18 month timeframe.

The Government recognises that the reorganisation currently underway is a major change in the organisation and structure of the Defence Forces. The extent of it should not be underestimated. I am cognisant of the demands we are placing on members of the Defence Forces. However, it is important that now the decision has been made, we move quickly to implement the reorganisation and provide certainty for personnel. I am advised by the Chief of Staff that the reorganisation will be largely completed by the end of November 2012.

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