Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy McFadden for raising this very important issue. This was also a very important issue for her late sister, Nicky, who also raised issues with regard to the Defence Forces and personnel in Athlone. I wish Deputy McFadden well as a recently elected Member of the House. I am pleased to reaffirm the Government's commitment to Custume Barracks in Athlone.

The background to recent developments at the barracks and for the Defence Forces arise in the context of the need to achieve a more effective and efficient organisational arrangement. Arising from the comprehensive review of expenditure in 2011, the Government decided to stabilise the strength ceiling of the Permanent Defence Force, PDF, at 9,500 personnel. The three brigade structure then in place had originally been designed in the 1990s, when the strength ceiling of the PDF was 11,500 personnel. At a strength ceiling of 9,500 personnel, stretched over three brigades, those organisational structures were clearly no longer efficient.

In this context, the Minister for Defence initiated a major re-organisation of the Defence Forces, encompassing the consolidation of three under-strength Army brigades into two full-strength brigades. This was to optimise the operational effectiveness of the Permanent Defence Force within the revised strength ceiling and ensure that the Defence Forces could continue to fulfil all roles assigned by the Government.

Key aspects of the re-organisation included the consolidation of under-strength units into a smaller number of full strength units, a reduction in the number of headquarters and the associated re-deployment of personnel from administrative and support functions to operational units. Within the three brigade structure, brigade headquarters were located in Cork, Dublin and Athlone. Following the consolidation of three Army brigades into two larger brigades, it was decided that the two new brigades would have headquarters in Cork and Dublin. This decision was in accordance with recommendations brought forward by the Chief of Staff and the Secretary General of the Department of Defence.

At the time of the re-organisation there was speculation in Athlone that the number of PDF personnel serving in Custume Barracks would be reduced by approximately 400. This was based on an incorrect assumption that 1,400 personnel were based in Custume Barracks at that time. This figure is based on the number of personnel that would have been in Custume Barracks if the PDF strength was at 11,500 personnel. This strength level had not been seen since the 1990s and, in this context, the figure of 1,400 personnel bears no relationship to the number of PDF personnel based in Custume Barracks in recent years. The Minister for Defence previously stated that following the implementation of the re-organisation, approximately 1,000 PDF personnel would be stationed at Custume Barracks within an overall PDF strength of 9,500 personnel. I have been advised by the military authorities that at 30 April 2014, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of personnel whose home station was Custume Barracks was 920. This was within an actual overall PDF strength figure of 9,110 at that date. However, it should be noted that recruitment to the Defence Forces is ongoing.

The Department is engaged in an ongoing capital building programme designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to members of the Defence Forces. Under this programme, there has been considerable capital investment at Custume Barracks in recent years. Recent major projects undertaken include the construction of armoured vehicle garaging facilities, a gymnasium and an upgrading of gas and water main facilities, including the provision of new underground services and associated works. In addition to the major capital projects, there are ongoing works to ensure the upkeep and repair of buildings at the barracks.

The reorganisation has maintained the operational capacity of the Defence Forces to the greatest extent possible, within the available resource envelope. It has allowed the Permanent Defence Force to continue to fulfil all roles assigned. This remains a key focus of the Chief of Staff and the Secretary General of the Department of Defence. Custume Barracks continues to be an important operational military barracks following the re-organisation of the Defence Forces and I stress there are no plans to change this. There are no plans to reduce the numbers at Custume Barracks and the commitment figure given will be maintained.

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