Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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29. To ask the Minister for Defence his response to concerns that the disestablishment of the 4th Western Brigade of the Defence Forces in 2012 has had a negative social impact in the midlands, west and north west of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6892/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A re-organisation of the Defence Forces was initiated by the former Minister for Defence in line with the Government’s decision to stabilise the strength ceiling of the PDF at 9,500 personnel.

The consolidation of three under-strength Army Brigades into two full strength Brigades ensured that within the revised strength ceiling, the operational effectiveness of the Permanent Defence Force was optimised in order to fulfil all roles assigned by Government.

The re-organisation within a stabilised strength ceiling of 9,500 personnel did not require any job losses as this strength level is similar to the actual strength of the Defence Forces when the current Government took up office in 2011.

While functions moved between locations, the actual number of PDF personnel in locations throughout the country did not change significantly.

The movement and transfer of Officers across locations throughout the country has always been and will continue to be a feature of an Officer’s career, which is essential to their career and experiential development within the Defence Forces.

The Army provides the land component of the State’s Defence capabilities. While recognising, the value of the organisation at local level, decisions on organisational structures must be based on the efficient and effective organisation of the Defence Forces.

I am assured that the current structures contribute to optimising the capacity of the Permanent Defence Force to deliver the required operational outputs, within the available resources. This remains one of my key objectives as Minister for Defence.