Written answers

Tuesday, 13 December 2011

Department of Justice, Equality and Defence

Emergency Planning

10:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied regarding the availability of adequate and necessary resources to enable the Defence Forces respond to a major emergency requiring urgent deployment throughout the country on and off shore with particular reference to the ability to respond rapidly and effectively in an emergency situation in cooperation with the civil authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38672/11]

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Defence the way the role of the Defence Forces will be filled in the provision of services during severe weather conditions in view of the increased level of retirements this year. [38657/11]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 66 together.

My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capacity of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible. I am satisfied that the Defence Forces will continue to have the necessary resources to fulfil all roles assigned to them by Government including provision of assistance to the civil authorities in any emergency situations that might arise.

Whilst the Defence Forces are not a Principal Response Agency, as defined in the Framework for Major Emergency Management, they will continue to provide the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the event of a severe weather emergency in an Aid to the Civil Authority (ATCA) role under the multi-agency Framework.

The various procedures that are in place, both nationally and locally, were seen to operate very effectively last Winter as the Defence Forces made all assets, resources and capabilities available to the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning and responded to all requests for assistance received from the civil authorities during the period of severe weather which ran from 27 November to 26 December 2010.

The strength of the Permanent Defence Force at the end of that period (2010) was 9,550 and at 30 November last, the latest date for which figures are available, the strength was 9,460 personnel. I am committed to maintaining the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at or around 9,500 personnel. Whilst it can be difficult to estimate precisely how many personnel will retire for reasons other than on age grounds, based on the latest available information (30 November) I can state that 53 officers and 437 enlisted personnel have submitted applications to retire or to be discharged from the Defence Forces on dates prior to 1 March 2012.

The extent of these retirements and discharges must however be counter-balanced by the fact that it has been possible to carry out some recruitment this year. To date, 32 Officers and 491 enlisted personnel have been recruited and it is anticipated that a further 39 enlisted personnel will be recruited before the end of this current year.

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