Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Defence the progress made regarding the fitting of roll over protection systems to Defence Forces vehicles; if it is intended to fit the ROPS system to all passenger carrying vehicles; when this process is expected to be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23363/10]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Defence the progress made regarding the fitting of roll over protection systems to Defence Forces vehicles; if it is intended to fit the ROPS system to all passenger carrying vehicles; when this process is expected to be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23365/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 77 together.

A Board of Officers was convened in 2009 to examine the introduction of a Roll Over Protection System (ROPS) for use in military trucks. Following submission of the Board's report to the relevant military authorities in July 2009, a decision was reached to modify 100 Troop Carrying Vehicles (TCVs) to accept ROPS and to fit ROPS units to 50 Troop Carrying Vehicles initially.

The contract for the provision of the Roll Over Protection Systems (ROPS) to the Defence Forces was awarded in January 2010 following an open tender completion. The contract was placed with an Irish company, Transport Component Distributors Limited. The work was completed in the first five months of this year.

The ROPS units are modular in design and can be removed with ease when requirements arise to use TCVs for the carriage of equipment or stores. Future requirements will be the subject of further review later this year. The contract was valued at €571,000 (incl VAT).

The safety of our troops is paramount at all times. The provision of the ROPS is an important step for the Defence Forces given that it has been a top priority for the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces from the health and safety perspective in recent years. The provision of the new system will ensure that all personnel being carried for operational and training purposes on troop carrying vehicles will be afforded a significantly increased level of safety while in transit.