Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this legislation to facilitate the appointment of Mark Mellett as Vice-Admiral of the Defence Forces. I wish him every success in his new role and implementing, with the Minister, the White Paper on defence which will allow for a significant reorganisation and refocusing of the Defence Forces. I was disappointed I did not have an opportunity to speak in the debate on the White Paper and that the debate was so limited.

I wish to bring to the attention of the Minister an issue relating to the reorganisation of the Defence Forces to which Deputy Clare Daly referred. It concerns the movement of personnel around the country to provide cover in Dublin. Significant numbers of staff and personnel are moved from Custume Barracks in Athlone to carry out duties in Dublin. In the medium term this is completely unsustainable. Everyone is aware of this fact but too afraid to say anything in case he or she upsets the apple cart. What is happening in Athlone is replicated at Finner Camp in County Donegal and Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dundalk. It means, in practical terms, a loss of 2,000 man days every month at three barracks to provide cover in the Dublin area, including at Leinster House and other military sites. The mileage clocked up by Defence Forces personnel in these three barracks in providing cover in Dublin is the equivalent of travelling around the world 18 times a year. In effect, every member of the Defence Forces based in Athlone, Dundalk and County Donegal is being relocated to Dublin once a month to carry out duties. Not only is there a significant cost in terms of transport and fuel - the additional cost is approximately €200,000 per annum - staff also receive days off in lieu. This is seriously restricting the operations of the Defence Forces in Ballyshannon, Dundalk and Athlone. It is also very disruptive for staff and their families, some of whom reside in places such as Cavan. They must travel to Athlone to collect their guns before travelling on to Dublin to carry out their duties.

The same applies to Donegal and Ballyshannon where staff have to come from outside Letterkenny before travelling on to Dublin. I cannot see how this can be justified in the long term.

While I believe there is no threat to the retention of Custume Barracks in Athlone, it is disingenuous to say there is no threat to personnel numbers based there after the general election under the current structure. The former Minister for Defence gave a commitment to maintain personnel numbers in Athlone at 1,000 and I welcomed that commitment at the time. However, I believe it is unsustainable with the current structure and over time it will undermine the status of Custume Barracks. While the current staffing structure protects the local economy in Athlone, I believe it is the tool that will be used to downgrade Custume Barracks in the longer term. In the future, Defence Forces personnel will not want to go to Athlone because they will be pulled from pillar to post.

We are all committed to delivering on a commitment given to the late former Deputy, Nicky McFadden. I see Deputy Gabrielle McFadden in the House. We all want to see those numbers retained in Athlone. I know the Minister is committed to that, as was his predecessor. However, if the current structure remains in place, it will not allow for those numbers to be retained in the long term in Custume Barracks.

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