Written answers

Tuesday, 13 November 2012

Department of Defence

Defence Forces Reorganisation

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Defence if he will ensure there will be houses available in Athlone, County Westmeath, for the families that will be moved there from Dublin; if there will be school places for their children; if financial support will be made readily available for the move including allowances and compensation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50028/12]

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Defence the cost benefits the moving of 56 families from Dublin McKee Barracks to Athlone, County Westmeath, will have for the Army and Government; the amount the relocation of the 56 families will cost the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50029/12]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 515 and 516 together.

The implementation of the major reorganisation of the Defence Forces in order to maintain their operational capability is progressing in full consultation with serving personnel and their Representative Associations. All options to avoid the need for personnel to relocate are being explored as part of this process. Personnel are being offered the opportunity for reassignment within their current locations where this is feasible, together with opportunities for re-training and re-skilling. In addition, a review system has been put in place whereby personnel who are unhappy with a proposed relocation can seek a review of a decision. Inevitably, given the scale of the reorganisation, it will be necessary for some staff to move to new locations.

The creation of a new two Brigade structure for the Army under the reorganisation has resulted in Combat Support Units being reduced from nine units to six. The Field Engineer companies based in McKee Barracks fall into this category, and the Headquarters element and Field Engineer Company are being relocated to Custume Barracks, Athlone. Forty-five personnel from within the 2 Field Engineer Company will therefore have to move with their unit to Athlone, or be reassigned to alternative appointments available in other Units in the Dublin Area. Pending the full rollout of the reorganisation plan it is not possible to say how many personnel can be facilitated though reassignment process. However, there is no question of families being moved or being required to move arising from the reorganisation and this is a matter for each individual to decide. The reality is that many Defence Forces personnel currently assigned to McKee barracks are not resident in Dublin and commute on a daily basis, which is a common feature across both the public and private sector of a modern, flexible and mobile working population in Ireland today.

All members of the Defence Forces reassigned under the Defence Forces Reorganisation Plan 2012 are entitled to Change of Station Allowance in circumstances where they meet the qualifying criteria. It is not possible at this point to estimate the total figure that will require to be paid in Change of Station allowance as this will be contingent on a number of factors including whether individuals will actually opt to physically relocate home or not.

The Government is very much aware that the major re-organisation currently underway is a difficult process for many serving members of the Defence Forces and their families, who are being required to make decisions under the current reorganisation that they would not otherwise have to make, or in different times have had to consider. Unfortunately, this is the consequence and reality of the reforms necessarily taking place across the public service today. It must be reiterated that there is no painless way to fundamentally reorganise the Defence Forces whilst maintaining essential military capabilities and it has become necessary to mandatorily move some personnel whose units are being disestablished or relocated and who cannot be accommodated in their current location.

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