Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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A number of serious issues of concern were raised with me this week by family members of soldiers working in Gormanston Army Camp in County Meath. I live very close to the camp and know many of the people who work there. Various family members are regularly in touch with me about the camp. It has been put to me that the Army bomb disposal team, which is based there for convenience and because of the facilities available there, as the camp is close to the airport and is also in a suitable location in terms of the Border region, will be removed on 28 February. I am not making a statement. The issue was raised with me this week and I am grateful to the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to use the Seanad to put the question. The question is whether the bomb disposal unit is moving from Gormanston on 28 February.

It has also been put to me that there are serious moves afoot to move the B Company 27th Battalion, which is the heart and soul of Gormanston, to Dundalk in the near future. No date has been given in that regard. If both of those moves were to be made there would be practically nothing left at Gormanston Camp. They are my questions. I hope the Minister will give me an answer that will allay the concerns I have raised.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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There are two elements to the Senator’s question - the future position of the B Company 27th Battalion at Gormanston Camp, County Meath, and the future position of the Army explosive ordnance disposal teams, and I will respond to the questions in that order.

A major reorganisation of the Permanent Defence Force, PDF, took place in 2012. This was in response to the Government decision to stabilise the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel. At this revised strength ceiling, the existing organisational structures that had been in place for a strength ceiling of 11,500 personnel were no longer viable. The purpose of the reorganisation was to ensure that within the reduced strength the operational effectiveness of the Permanent Defence Force was prioritised.

In July 2012, the Minister and I accepted the reorganisation proposals submitted to us by the Chief of Staff and the Secretary General of the Department of Defence. These proposals had due regard to Defence Forces operational requirements and outlined a PDF Army structure based on two brigades, with the brigade headquarters located in Cork and Dublin. Other key aspects of this reorganisation included the consolidation of under-strength units and the disestablishment of certain units, a reduction in the number of headquarters and a redeployment of personnel from administrative and support functions to operational units. As part of this process, the number of Army infantry battalions decreased from nine under-strength infantry battalions to seven full-strength infantry battalions.

In Dublin, two under-strength infantry battalions were consolidated into one full-strength battalion. B Company of the 5th Battalion, based in Gormanston Camp, was re-designated B Company of the 27th Battalion and remains situated in Gormanston. There are no plans to relocate this unit. The 27th Infantry Battalion has two PDF garrison posts, at Aiken Barracks in County Louth and Gormanston Camp in County Meath. The battalion also occupies two reserve posts in Navan and Cavan towns.

The Defence Forces, in their role of supporting the civil power, provide assistance to An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. Such requests may entail the calling out of the Defence Forces Ordnance Corps. In support of this aid to the civil power role, the Defence Forces have a number of explosive ordnance disposal, EOD, teams located strategically throughout the State. In addition, the Defence Forces maintain the capacity to stand up additional teams if required. The deployment of EOD teams is kept under regular review by the Defence Forces. Their location is determined by operational demands, with the imperative being the ability to provide an immediate response to requests for EOD assistance from An Garda Síochána. From time to time, EOD teams can be redeployed to counter increased EOD threat activity throughout the country. Teams are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to respond to call-outs. Gormanston Camp is used as a secondary location for an EOD response in the Leinster area. There are no plans to reduce the number of EOD teams in the Defence Forces.

Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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As usual when one receives a response on an issue such as this, there is great detail in the response and it is difficult to absorb it all in a short period. I accept the Minister of State's statement that there are no plans to relocate B Company 27th Battalion. We have heard this before, but I have been hearing otherwise and I feel it is important to raise the issue.

The Minister of State has not said the same with regard to the bomb disposal team. In that regard, all he has said is that there are no plans to reduce the number of such teams in the Defence Forces. I believe that moving the bomb disposal team would be a retrograde step. I presume that from an operational point of view the team is located in Gormanston because it is so easy to get to the airport from there, and I believe it was moved to Gormanston originally to make it easier for it to do so in case of emergency. Gormanston is also a suitable location for dealing with the dissident threat along the Border area as it is conveniently located at a major motorway interchange.

Moving the team would also be a downgrading of the camp. The last Air Corps team was moved from Gormanston last year, an issue I raised here also. The Minister of State has not countered any of the rumours regarding the bomb disposal team moving on 28 February, although he countered the rumour regarding B Company 27th Battalion, which comprises more than 100 troops. These do fantastic work and most of them live between Balbriggan and Drogheda. They like the work they do in Gormanston and the atmosphere of the camp. Their family members tell me they are deeply concerned about proposed changes.

The Minister of State has said there is no change planned for the battalion, so we will take things as they come. I will be deeply disappointed if the bomb disposal team is moved. I have met the team in Gormanston and am highly impressed with its work. It would be a huge loss to east Meath and the area if the team was moved. It is a source of prestige in the area. Gormanston Camp is of major historical significance, both in the recent past and in our history. It has played a key role in protecting the State and the people at times of terrible strife in this country. For the mandarins and chiefs who may be listening, it would be a wrong and retrograde move for this to happen.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I would not refer to anybody in the Defence Forces as mandarins.

Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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I was referring to the officials in the Department as well. I said "the mandarins and chiefs".

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I would not refer to those in the Defence Forces or the Department as mandarins. These people do extremely good work in difficult circumstances and in the difficult financial circumstances the country has been in over the past number of years.

As I stated in my response, the deployment of any EOD team is kept under regular review by the Defence Forces and their location is determined by operational demands, with the imperative being the ability to provide an immediate response to requests for EOD assistance from An Garda Síochána. I understand Gormanston's strategic location and that it is very close to Dublin Airport and Dublin City. However, the Department must keep under review the location of EOD teams. The location of other EOD teams cannot be disclosed for operational reasons and on security grounds. I understand the personnel based in the Gormanston Camp are very important to the local area.

I assure the Senator there are no plans to move B Company 5th Battalion, now B Company 27th Battalion, which is based in Gormanston. The location of EOD teams is kept under constant review by the Department. These teams are specifically for operational and security duties. I compliment the work that is done by all of the EOD teams and members of the Defence Forces who work on the ground and protect the State and its citizens on a daily basis.