Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing failure to make payments since 1 October 2005 to Reserve Defence Force officers in respect of the use of their private cars on official duties; the number of individual claims which are unpaid per brigade; the reason for the eight month delay; and the sum of money due to date. [22903/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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With effect from the 1st October 2005, in the context of the reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Force under the RDF Review Implementation Plan, revised arrangements for the payment of motor travel allowances to Reserve officers for the use of their own motor cars in the course of official duties were introduced. It was subsequently discovered that a substantial number of the claims received after that date were not in accordance with the relevant regulations and these were returned to the units concerned for amendment or clarification, as appropriate. This has temporarily resulted in a higher than usual level of unpaid claims on hand. Claims found to be in order are being paid on an ongoing basis and to date in 2006 my Department has paid €22,285 in respect of motor travel allowance to Reserve officers. (This sum includes some payments due under the pre-Oct 2005 arrangements).

The following table gives a breakdown of the claims on hand in my Department:

Work on the outstanding claims is continuing with a view to making payment as quickly as possible.