Written answers
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Department of Defence
Departmental Expenditure
10:00 am
John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 484: To ask the Minister for Defence the elements of the McCarthy report that have been implemented to date by his Department; his plans to implement any aspects of the plan in the future; if the overall plan has been assessed by his Department; and if so his views on the benefits of the plans. [28111/10]
Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Following the publication of the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes in July 2009, the recommendations relating to the Defence sector were given full consideration in the Department in the context of identifying required savings for the 2010 Estimates.
With the exception of the recommendation to close the Equitation School which has not been accepted, all of the main savings measures identified by the Special Group have been implemented, or alternative savings have been implemented, as follows:
| Special Group's Recommendation | Implementation |
| Reduction in personnel in Permanent Defence Force and Department over 2 to 3 years. | Recommended reductions already achieved. |
| Rationalisation of Ireland's overseas commitments – end participation in UN mission in Chad. | Ireland's commitments in Kosovo were significantly reduced in April 2010, while the numbers in Bosnia-Herzegovina will be scaled back later this year. The Irishcontingent withdrew from Chad in May 2010*. |
| Reduction of the Reserve Defence Force by two-thirds. | The number of paid training days available for RDF members has been reduced. |
| Close the sail-training scheme (Asgard II). | The sail-training scheme has been discontinued. |
| Further consolidation of property portfolio. | Additional property sales are progressing. |
| Charge the full economic cost of Aid to the CivilPower, Aid to the Civil Authority services etc. | The Central Bank and other organisations will be charged for security services on the same basis as the Commercial Banks. The Central Bank has agreed to pay such costs while discussions with the other organisations are ongoing. |
| Extend the timeframe of the naval vessel replacement. | The recommendation will be taken into account in consideration of the replacement of naval vessels. |
*The reduction in Ireland's participation in KFOR was designed to deliver savings in line with the recommendations of the Special Group and as an alternative to a withdrawal from the UN operation in Chad and the Central African Republic (MINURCAT). Unfortunately, for other reasons, it became necessary to withdraw from the Chad mission in May 2010.
No comments