Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for Defence the way he will achieve the reduction of 3% in payroll costs for his Department as announced in July 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35873/08]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 31: To ask the Minister for Defence if it is intended to effect a reduction in staffing levels in his private or constituency offices or those of the Minister of State in his Department arising from the requirement intended to achieve the reduction of 3% in payroll costs for his Department. [35874/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 31 together.

My Department will achieve the 3% reduction in payroll costs by adopting a rigorous programme of efficiencies and through the prudent management of its resources. Specifically, a range of measures is being put in place to ensure that the required payroll reduction is achieved, including not filling vacancies arising from natural wastage and anticipated retirements and reductions in overtime.

My Department has 387 whole-time equivalent staff, including four permanent civil servants in my private office and six permanent civil servants in my constituency office. Since the announcement in July, nine posts in my Department remain unfilled, representing more than 2% of posts. Other vacancies that may arise between now and the end of 2009 will be managed on a case-by-case basis in order to stay within budget. In addition to these measures, my Department will continue to seek out savings while maintaining its existing level of service.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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To some extent this question has been overtaken by the budget. Some nine posts are not being filled. Will they remain unfilled?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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For the moment.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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We have read reports that recruitment to the Defence Forces is also being slowed down. Is that taking place as a result of the 3% reduction in payroll costs or the budget?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Nine posts remain unfilled because we are trying to reach the 3% target. The Defence Forces are also subject to the 3% target. The total payroll allocation for the civil servants in my Department is €19.2 million. In 2009, the allocation will be €19 million. It will result in a slowdown in recruitment for the Army. The total payroll allocation for the Defence Forces for 2008 is approximately €486 million. In 2009, the allocation will be €478 million. It will certainly result in a slowdown in recruitment. Up to now the level of Defence Forces personnel has been approximately 10,500. I believe we will be somewhat below that for the foreseeable future.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Earlier we discussed the medical corps. Does this restriction mean in effect that if doctors apply in response to a recruitment campaign, the money will not be found to make those appointments? In other words will recruitment into the medical corps also be slowed down or stopped?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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That is a very interesting question and the answer is "No". Whatever happens, Army people who need medical assistance will get it. As the Deputy will be aware from the replies to previous questions, in so far as we cannot provide that medical assistance ourselves, we contract it in from outside. The cost of doing that for this year is estimated at approximately €4.5 million. I would prefer to spend it on a properly constituted medical corps in the Army rather than recruiting private medical expertise from outside.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister expect to make a saving in personnel, resulting from the closure of the four barracks? I again ask a question I asked during Priority Questions. How much does he expect to save through the closure of these four barracks?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The answer to the first question is "No". There will be no reduction in personnel. Some 635 troops and 46 civilian staff are being moved throughout the different barracks. The troops will be moved to the different barracks being organised for them. The civilian staff can accept redeployment if redeployment is available for them. At the moment I am discussing with the Department of Finance a scheme for voluntary redundancy if somebody would prefer to avail of that rather than be redeployed. It is quite possible that some of those civilian posts will not be filled. However, those people are entitled to stay in their jobs until they reach retirement age if that is their wish.

Various estimates have been made of the savings. It will release properties to be sold, but it is very difficult to sell them in the current climate. I understand that across the various subheads for maintenance, stores, lighting and heating, etc., there will be considerable savings. It will enable us to keep within the targets set for us by the Department of Finance for next year.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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What impact will this policy have on the overall strength of the Defence Forces of 10,500?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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It will reduce it slightly. It is currently at approximately maximum strength. We are at approximately 22 or 23 below the 10,500 to the best of my recollection. It will mean that the average figure of 10,500 will drop slightly. I am told it will not drop very considerably.