Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's Estimate for 2010. [1988/10]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Like all areas of the public service, the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces will contribute towards resolving the current challenges facing the country. The Defence Organisation will be required to operate on a reduced budget for 2010 as outlined in the Budget 2010 documentation.

I am committed to maintaining the strength of the Defence Forces at a level of 10,000 across all ranks. The Defence Forces will continue to operate across all of the roles assigned by Government.

The investment in improved equipment and training made over the past few years means that the Defence Forces are in a healthy state both in terms of personnel and equipment to meet the challenges that lie ahead. They have improved in every respect since 2000 and comprehensive reform of structure and human resources, together with major investment in infrastructure and equipment, has been achieved during the past ten years.

There will be no new, cost-increasing expenditure measures introduced in 2010. The key current expenditure reductions in 2010 will be achieved as follows:

Payroll savings of c. €14m will be achieved by a reduction in Permanent Defence Force personnel numbers, reduced civilian employee numbers and lower levels of paid training days for the Reserve Defence Forces.

Reductions in the number of Permanent Defence Force personnel deployed overseas to Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina will achieve savings of up to €7m.

Reduced Naval Service patrol days and the optimisation of Air Corps flying hours will deliver savings of €2.2m.

The Coiste an Asgard sail training scheme will be discontinued, resulting in a saving of €0.8m.

Additional Appropriations in Aid of up to €13m are anticipated, mainly in respect of UN receipts, property sales, cash escorts and military guards. The scheme of full recovery for security services will be extended to An Post, the Central Bank and other organisations.

The 2010 capital expenditure allocation of €16m will be focused on new building works to improve the accommodation and facilities of the Defence Forces.

I am satisfied that priority programmes of investment in equipment and infrastructure will be maintained.