Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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68. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the age profile of former members of the Defence Forces for each of the past five years that have had to avail of supports provided by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52729/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (O.N.E.) is an organisation dedicated to looking after the welfare of ex-service personnel of the Irish Defence Forces. It provides accommodation to homeless, elderly or disabled members in need of such domestic accommodation and shelter as well as other assistance and advice as required. O.N.E. has accommodation in Smithfield, Dublin (Brú na bhFiann with 30 places), Athlone (7 places) and Letterkenny (7 places), a drop-in centre in Limerick and an advice centre in Dundalk.

O.N.E. has enjoyed the long standing official recognition of the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. Officials from my Department hold regular meetings with O.N.E., and the other recognised veterans’ organisations, at which issues of concern to their members are discussed. As part of that process the Department has a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with O.N.E. Under the terms of this SLA, and as part of the supports currently offered to veterans, my Department provides an annual subvention, currently €44,000, to support the general overheads of the organisation.

I recognise the valued public service given by former servicemen and women of the Defence Forces to the State and, as such, the Defence Organisation and I are committed to the continued support of and engagement with O.N.E. into the future.

However, O.N.E. is a limited company with charitable status and it is the case that neither my Department nor I has any role or function in the running, management or operation of ONE. In this regard, I have no knowledge of the age profile of former members of the Defence Forces that have availed of supports provided by ONE.