Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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34. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if consideration is being given to a reorganisation of the Permanent Defence Forces with particular reference to the security needs of the Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15432/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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In 2012, a major re-organisation of the Defence Forces took place which resulted in the consolidation of under-strength units into a smaller number of full strength units, a reduction in the number of headquarters and the associated re-deployment of personnel from administrative and support functions to operational units.

As a result of the re-organisation, the operational capacity of the Defence Forces has been maintained to the greatest extent possible, within the available resource envelope. Also of significance however, is the fact that the re-organisation has led to an improvement in the deployability and sustainability of the Defence Forces, both at home and overseas. There are no plans at present for any further re-organisation but future operational requirements are kept under review.

As part of a whole of Government approach, my Department is engaged in forward planning for the UK exit from the EU. While the nature of the border will be decided during the course of the negotiations, it is this Government’s stated goal to ensure that the current on-island border arrangements are maintained to the greatest extent possible.

Responsibility for the security aspect of border control rests with An Garda Síochána , while the Revenue Commissioners have responsibilities relating to Customs matters. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power which, in practice, means to provide assistance and support to An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. The Defence Forces also provide support to the Revenue Commissioners. The fact of a UK exit from the EU does not of itself give rise to additional border control requirements at this time.

The Defence Forces keep their operational plans under constant review and there is ongoing close liaison between An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces regarding security matters and regular coordination and liaison meetings take place.