Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Defence, Deputy Shatter, who is unable to be here today owing to long-standing commitments.

I welcome the opportunity today to deal with this issue. As the Senator is no doubt aware, following the Government's comprehensive review of expenditure, the Minister for Defence secured the agreement of the Government to maintain the strength of the Defence Forces at the level of 9,500. While this represents a very significant commitment on the part of the Government, at this strength it was not possible to maintain the organisational structure of the Defence Forces, which had been designed to support a serving strength of 11,500.

As a result, the Minister for Defence asked the Secretary General of the Department of Defence and the Chief of Staff to conduct a detailed review of the organisation and structure of the Defence Forces and to bring forward proposals on an appropriate organisation for a Defence Force of 9,500 serving personnel, which could continue to deliver the services required by Government. The Minister for Defence accepted the proposals submitted jointly by the Secretary General and the Chief of Staff, which recommended a reorganisation of Defence Forces' units based on a two brigade structure.

The implementation of the major reorganisation of the Defence Forces in order to maintain operational capability is now progressing in full consultation with serving personnel and their representative associations. It is important to stress that all options to avoid the need for personnel to relocate are being explored as part of this process. Personnel are being offered the opportunity for reassignment within their current locations, where this is feasible, together with opportunities for retraining and reskilling. In addition, a review system has been put in place, which allows personnel who are unhappy with a proposed relocation to seek a review of a decision. Given the scale of the reorganisation, it will be necessary for some staff to move to new locations.

The Government remains aware that the reorganisation under way is a difficult process for many serving members of the Defence Forces and their families, who are being required to make decisions under the reorganisation that they would not otherwise have to make or in different times would have had to consider. Unfortunately, this is the consequence and reality of the reforms necessarily taking place across the public service.

A key element of the reorganisation and its implementation is to ensure that there are no serving personnel without appointment in the new organisation. In this regard it is understood that a number of personnel in Gormanston Camp, who are on long term detachment from their parent units, which are based in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, continue to serve without appointment. Having regard to the fact that there are to be no personnel serving without appointment it is the case that their detachment at Gormanston is therefore due to end with effect from 30 November 2012 and that said personnel will be required to relocate to their parent units at Baldonnel or to reassign to Army units where there are vacancies.

However, in keeping with the principle underlying the reorganisation that all options to avoid the need for personnel to relocate be explored as part of this process, I can advise that all the personnel concerned were advised of their options and given the opportunity to submit applications seeking reassignment to the Army. While no Army vacancies were available in Gormanston Camp, there were vacancies available in other areas. I understand this option was declined by all the personnel concerned. The Defence Forces, like every other State organisation, is not immune to the current fiscal realities. While the requirements of the reorganisation may come as a disappointment to some of the personnel involved it is crucial to note that there are no job losses involved for the personnel concerned as part of this process. It is imperative everyone fully understands and accepts that there is no painless way to fundamentally reorganise the Defence Forces.

At the same time we must maintain essential military capabilities. It has become necessary to mandatorily move personnel in units which have been disestablished or who cannot be accommodated in their current location.

Without prejudice to the outcome of any request for review of relocation by any of the personnel concerned, as I noted, having rejected the opportunity to apply for Army assignments that were available in locations more convenient to their current location, it will therefore remain the case that the personnel concerned will be required to reassign to their parent units based in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, when their detachment to Gormanston comes to an end at the end of November 2012.