Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 9: To ask the Minister for Defence the progress he has made in implementing his decision to reduce the number of brigades from three to two; if he has met with various stakeholders; if so, with whom and when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14159/12]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans for the restructuring of the Defence Forces organisation, in particular concerning the number of brigades; the resulting implications for the levels of rank establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14295/12]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 17 together.

Arising from the Government's comprehensive review of expenditure, the strength ceiling of the Permanent Defence Force, PDF, was reduced to 9,500 personnel. In response to this reduced strength ceiling, my colleague, the Minister for Defence, initiated a major reorganisation of the Defence Forces, both permanent and reserve.

A three brigade Army structure was adopted in the 1990s when the strength ceiling of the PDF was set at approximately 11,500 personnel. It was retained when the White Paper on Defence of 2000 revised the strength ceiling of the PDF to 10,500 personnel. However, it is no longer viable to retain a three brigade structure within a strength ceiling of 9,500 personnel.

In this context, the re-organisation of the Defence Forces will encompass a reduction in the number of Army brigades from the current three to two. It will also ensure that the organisational structures of the Reserve Defence Force dovetail with those of the PDF.

The re-organisation will ensure that, within the strength level of 9,500 PDF personnel, the operational effectiveness of the Permanent Defence Force is prioritised. A reorganisation to two brigades will bolster the availability of operational personnel by reducing the numbers of military personnel assigned to administrative and support functions.

The Minister for Defence has requested the Chief of Staff and the Secretary General of the Department of Defence to bring forward detailed proposals for his consideration. The Secretary General and the Chief of Staff have initiated work in this regard and are keeping the Minister informed of developments on an ongoing basis.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

This is a fundamental reorganisation of the Defence Forces. It is a significant undertaking and there is a range of alternative approaches that must be considered. The Minister previously outlined that this work will take some months to complete. Accordingly, the detailed effects of changes arising from the reorganisation, including the implications for the levels of rank establishments, cannot be specified at this point. In advance of receiving a final report and recommendations, the Minister does not intend to pre-empt the ongoing work by commenting on potential future organisational matters.

The representative associations and other relevant stakeholders will be consulted on matters that fall within their remit when options on the reorganised structure are considered and the likely impacts are known.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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As has already been said, PDFORRA and the RACO were completely surprised and disappointed last December by the Minister's shock announcement. There had been no indication that this was coming down the stream.

I asked if the Minister has met the various stakeholders. The Minister of State did not say whether or not he has done so. If he has, whom has he met and when?

Which barracks will be the headquarters for the two new brigades? Given its central location and that it is served by a good road infrastructure, Athlone would be an ideal location for one of these headquarters. When will the Minister announce which brigade will be downgraded and where the new headquarters will be located? What number of senior armed forces positions will be removed in the new restructure?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Troy for his comments; I will inform the Minister that his location of choice is Athlone.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with Deputy Troy.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I am sure the Minister of State is not surprised.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I am not surprised.

This fundamental reorganisation of the Defence Forces is a significant undertaking and a range of alternative approaches must be considered. The Minister previously outlined that this work will take some months to complete. Accordingly, the detailed effect of changes arising from the reorganisation, including the implications for levels of rank establishments which the Deputy raised, cannot be specified at this time. In advance of receiving a final report and recommendation, the Minister does not intend to pre-empt the ongoing work by commenting on potential future organisational matters.

The representative associations and other relevant stakeholders will be consulted on the matters that fall within their remit when options on the reorganised structure are considered and the likely impacts known. There will be consultation.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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What is the situation regarding the consultative Green Paper on Defence which I believe was to be part of this process?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I do not have a briefing note on that matter but the Minister has instructed both the Secretary General of the Department and the Chief of Staff to present options. I will bring the issue of the Green Paper to the attention of the Minister.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I gather from the Minister of State's reply that there will be engagement with the various stakeholders when the decisions have been made-----

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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No, they are options.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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This seems to me to be a repeat of what happened when the barracks were being closed in the various locations before Christmas. Representatives from the various barracks were called in after the decisions were made and there was no engagement beforehand. I humbly suggest that the Department should engage with the various stakeholders so that they could contribute to the process when the Minister is considering his options. They are the people on the ground who know what is happening and they are best equipped to contribute to this process. I ask the Minister of State to ask the Minister to engage with the stakeholders before any decisions or options are put on the table and to let these people have their say.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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This is exactly what the Minister is doing. The Chief of Staff is in charge of the Defence Forces and it is right and proper that the Minister has requested the Chief of Staff and the Secretary General of the Department to come back with options. It is not the Minister's job to micro-manage every aspect as this is the responsibility of the Chief of Staff. However, any good commander will engage in consultation with the professional organisation and with others. I do not envisage any lacuna in the information as regards the options. When the Minister is presented with those options through the proper and correct channels, and by the Chief of Staff and the Secretary General, all those options will be on the table for discussion and their implications will be clearly known.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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One of the options will be a decrease in the number of brigades from two to three and this will be a difficulty. In hindsight, the Minister handled this matter badly. He made a decision to reduce the number of brigades from three to two. He is giving the Chief of Staff and the Secretary General the task of coming up with options which fit into the decision which has already been made. This was the wrong way to go about it and in hindsight, the Minister made a mistake. It should have been announced there was a decision to reorganise the Defence Forces and that all options were up for discussion. At that point there should have been engagement will all the stakeholders but that did not happen in this case and that was a mistake.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The Minister will consult with the Secretary General who benefits from the collective wisdom of the Department and also with the Chief of Staff who represents the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service. Therefore, everybody is being consulted. As a result of this reorganisation and other changes, at least 500 people will have the opportunity to apply to become full-time members of the Defence Forces as soon as possible and this is a good news story for those 500 people and their families. This is a great opportunity for young people and I know it will be taken up enthusiastically.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister proposes a restructuring from three brigades to two brigades. This will result in a significant change in the senior ranks. I ask the Minister of State to say when those proposals will be available and to give a timescale in months. Is it true that promotions in the Defence Forces are not going ahead because of this current review? I suggest it would be preferable to conclude this review sooner rather than later.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The Minister is awaiting the report from the Chief of Staff and the Secretary General. They want to proceed with proper discussion of all the options and the necessary changes as expeditiously and as effectively as possible. I do not envisage a protracted delay.