Written answers
Thursday, 14 October 2010
Department of Defence
Departmental Expenditure
5:00 pm
Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Defence which recommendations contained in the McCarthy report pertain to his Department; the detail of each and proposed savings relating to his Department; which of these have been implemented to date and the expected savings to be achieved on each of these in one calendar year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36981/10]
Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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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.
With the exception of the recommendation to close the Equitation School, which has not been accepted, all of the main savings identified by the Special Group have been implemented, or alternative savings identified, as follows:
| Report of the Special Group on Public Numbers and Expenditure Programmes Implementation progress | 2010 Estimated Savings €m |
| Reduction of Permanent Defence Force numbers. Reductions in PDF numbers already achieved are in line with Report recommendations. Government approval was secured in the context of Budget 2010 for a level of 10,000 all ranks. Civilian employee numbers are also reducing. | 9.0 |
| Rationalise Ireland's overseas commitments – end participation in UN mission in ChadIreland's commitments in Kosovo were significantly reduced in April 2010. Numbers in Bosnia-Herzegovina are being scaled back at the end of 2010.The Irish contingent withdrew from Chad in May 2010*. | 7.0 |
| Reduce the Reserve Defence Force by two-thirds.The number of paid training days for RDF members has been reduced. | 4.0 |
| Close the sail training scheme (Asgard II)The sail training scheme has been discontinued. | 0.8 |
| Reduce Departmental staff numbers in proportion to the reduction in the Permanent Defence Force.Recommended reduction has been achieved. | 0.5 |
| Further Consolidation of property portfolio.Additional property sales are progressing. | 5.0 |
| Charge the full economic cost of Aid to the Civil Power, Aid to the Civil Authority, etc. to the relevant bodies.The Central Bank has paid for security services provided to them and the Department are continuing to pursue the other bodies for the relevant cost. | 3.0 |
*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 it became necessary to withdraw from the Chad mission in May 2010. The financial implications of the early withdrawal are not shown in the above table due to some uncertain factors including the amount and timing of re-imbursements from the UN. Savings of c.€8m on a full calendar year basis are forecast to arise from this withdrawal. Similarly, full year savings of c. €12m are expected to arise due to the Kosovo downsizing. Options for future overseas deployments are currently being considered.
In the context of Budget 2011 all opportunities for cost reductions are being critically examined. Within the resources available I intend to retain the capacity of the Defence organisation to operate effectively across all roles while contributing to the necessary public service economies.
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