Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We witnessed the lack of priority this Government affords the Defence Forces when it took office. For the first time in the history of the State no dedicated full-time Cabinet Minister was appointed. Under a statutory instrument signed by the Minister, the CS4 establishment for Custume Barracks, the permitted number of personnel is 1,440. Can the Minister confirm that figure is correct? Can he confirm that under the same statutory instrument 12 units were established under Custume Barracks, Athlone, following the closure of the barracks in Mullingar, Cavan and Longford? Can he confirm, following the disestablishment of the 4th western brigade, how many personnel are permitted under the new statutory instruments? My information is that there are approximately 580 fewer personnel permitted now than were permitted under the statutory instrument on 30 November 2012.

See this speech in context