Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 306: To ask the Minister for Defence if his Department has carried out an efficiency savings analysis with a view to cutting out unnecessary costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30225/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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My Department if fully committed to carrying out its work in an efficient and cost effective way. Every effort is made to enhance value for money. The White Paper on Defence, which was approved by government and published in February 2000, deals with all aspects of Defence provision and Organisation. It sets out the policy for Defence over the period to 2010 with a view to ensuring an appropriate level of Defence capability having regard to the changing defence and security environment. A restructuring process was mapped out for the Defence Forces and the Department. The White Paper provided for a reduction of 1,000 in Defence Force numbers (to 10,500) and the consequent investment of pay savings in new equipment and infrastructure. These savings, plus the resources generated from the sale of properties were utilised to fund an investment programme in defence equipment and infrastructure.

I initiated a detailed review of implementation of White Paper recommendations in both the Department and the Defence Forces. This has been completed and a report published in April 2007.

In addition, my Department is participating in the current round of Value for Money and Policy Reviews approved by Government. The terms of reference for these reviews includes examination of efficiency and identification of potential savings. Recent reviews conducted and their publication dates are as follows:

Review of Maintenance of Aircraft in the Air Corps 2006

Review of Defence Forces Clothing Procurement 2007

Two further reviews are currently being progressed:

Review of Naval Service Vessel Maintenance

Review of Usage of Military Training Lands

The approach we have taken in Defence is to continuously monitor the defence and security environment to ensure the continued relevance of White Paper objectives and to monitor and report on implementation targets. This approach is complemented by VFM and other reviews of specific sub-elements of programmes in order to seek out further VFM initiatives and engender a culture of continuous evaluation and improvement.