Written answers
Thursday, 31 May 2018
Department of Defence
White Paper on Defence
Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
53. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress of projects 5 and 22 of the 2015 White Paper on Defence; and if progress has been affected by low recruitment figures and an increased rate of resignations from the Defence Forces. [24060/18]
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The 2015 White Paper on Defence sets the defence policy agenda over a ten year planning horizon and encompasses all work carried out by the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and Civil Defence. It comprehends the Government’s policy on defence of the State from armed aggression, the defence contribution to domestic security, the defence contribution to international peace and security and a broad range of other “non-security” roles which the Government require the Defence Forces and Civil Defence to undertake. It considers the defence capabilities required so that the Defence Forces can successfully deliver on the roles assigned by Government. Finally, the White Paper also considers implementation and the actions required to ensure that defence planning and provision processes are further developed.
During scoping of the White Paper implementation programme, 88 actions or projects were specifically identified. These actions represent a subset of the totality of the work being carried out as part of the implementation programme for the White Paper. While it is currently intended to have all 88 projects initiated or completed by the end of the ten year implementation programme, work in certain areas will continue beyond 2025 in order to ensure that changes, improvements and actions envisaged in the White Paper are fully implemented and to assure that positive outcomes endure and are embedded in the day to day business of the Defence Organisation.
To date, 37 projects have been initiated with 10 more projects due to initiate during 2018. Of these, 5 projects have been completed and closed/transitioned to normal business including Projects 5 and 22.
The Permanent Defence Force has levels of personnel turnover that exceed other areas of the public service and there is ongoing recruitment to replace personnel who depart. This is not a new development and is a feature of military organisations. This has not impacted on either of the projects referred to.
The following sets out a progress summary in relation to projects 5 and 22.
| Number | Project Name | Summary Statement |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Engagement with the Connected Forces Initiative (CFI), the Planning and Review Process (PARP) and the Operational Capabilities Concept (OCC) | The project objective was for Ireland to continue to engage with the Partnership Interoperability Advocacy Group (formerly CFI), participate in the Planning and Review Process (PARP) and have joined the Operational Capabilities Concept, Evaluation and Feedback (OCC EandF) programme. As part of the OCC EandF programme, Ireland selected a unit for the inaugural force package for participation in OCC EandF assessment. This is the first step in a two - year programme in which the unit will undertake two evaluations. Ireland also completed a full cycle of the PARP process. A lessons learned exercise was also completed to identify and improve this process. Ireland continues to participate in the informal Partnership Interoperability Advocacy Group (PIAG) discussions and took over as PIAG Co-Chair in January 2018 for one year, and will fill the Executive Officer position from mid-2018 (July) to mid 2019. |
| 22 | Develop a new employment support scheme with the direct involvement of the Defence Forces | The White Paper gave a commitment to develop a pilot Employee Support Scheme (ESS). The pilot programme for the scheme was conducted by 2 Bde in Gormanston in 2016. Following successful evaluation of the pilot programme, the Minister approved a three year roll out of the Scheme (2017-2019), with up to 2 iterations of the programme to be scheduled each year. 2 iterations of the programme were held in mid and late 2017 (in Limerick and Gormanston). Another iteration is scheduled for summer 2018 (June in Cork) and the 2nd iteration for 2018 is currently provisionally scheduled for later this year. Funding has been secured from the European Social Fund for the iterations of the scheme outlined in the 3 year implementation plan. As part of the roll out, it was agreed that a full review of the Scheme be scheduled for 2020 which would comprehensively evaluate "Value for Money" in relation to the Scheme. |
No comments