Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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45. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the fact that the 2012 reorganisation of the Defence Forces has meant many personnel have much longer commutes to work, which is a strain on them and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43994/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The current Defence Forces organisational structures have now been in place for almost five years and followed a series of barrack closures (which continued the a rationalisation agenda initiated by previous Governments). The re-organisation of the Defence Forces resulted in a fundamental restructuring of Army Formations and Units across the country including a number of operational posts. This and previous barrack closures were undertaken in order to enhance operational readiness and deployability. The re-organisation led to a re-configuration of operational processes, from a garrison-based system to a more flexible, deployable system that makes more efficient use of all resources, including personnel.

I have been advised by the military authorities that, for the most part, personnel are only deployed within their own Brigade area. Occasionally, personnel from Donegal for example, have been deployed for security operations to other locations, including Dublin which is a key centre for large scale operations and ceremonial activity for the Defence Forces.

It is important that military personnel have experience of the full range of duties and of being part of a military force in a situation where they may be called upon to reinforce operations in different parts of the country. This requires their deployment to locations where that experience can be gained.

While efforts have been made to minimise impacts on individuals and families through retaining personnel in their Brigade area insofar as possible, it is essential that the military authorities have the capacity to deploy appropriate resources to wherever required in order to meet security and other taskings and it is my intention to retain this flexibility within the Defence Forces.