Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Defence the progress made in regard to the fitting of safety devices to troop carrying trucks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24714/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Arising from an accident involving a troop carrying vehicle in Granard, Co. Longford in June 2007, a study group was formed to advise on the introduction of a Roll Over Protection System for troop carrying vehicles incorporating roll bars and safety belts. The report of the study group was completed in February 2008 and submitted to the military authorities for consideration.

Since then a number of different options have been fitted to different vehicles for testing and evaluation to identify the key requirements and performance characteristics of roll over systems.

A report on the introduction of Rollover Protection Systems in the Defence Forces Troop Carrying Vehicles is currently being completed by a Board of Officers in the Defence Forces. The report will cover in detail the following items:

Equipment specification to be included in a tender competition

Number of units to be purchased

How the equipment should be employed

Operator training to be delivered to Defence Forces personnel before using the equipment

Associated Health & Safety issues.

In dealing with the Health & Safety issues the Board have conducted a number of tests on the current fleet of Troop Carrying Vehicles in the Defence Forces to confirm that certain hazards to personnel do not exist while they are transported in these vehicles. These tests included vibration tests, noise tests and smoke tests.

The Board expect to complete their report in early July 2009, at which time the report will be submitted to the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support).

Once the report is approved, the programme for the procurement and installation of the systems will proceed in accordance with relevant public procurement procedures.