Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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376. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if all documents and data on serving and retired personnel is held in digitised or paper form; if this is GDPR compliant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29672/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Personal data on behalf of both serving and retired personnel is held compliant with GDPR. This data can be stored in paper or digitised form.

The Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) is the Data Controller for Óglaigh na hÉireann and is responsible for the processing of personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. Óglaigh na hÉireann engages with the Data Protection Commission on an ongoing basis to ensure best practice. Óglaigh na hÉireann takes its data protection responsibilities very seriously and makes every effort to ensure that personal data is appropriately safeguarded. Further, there is a data breach protocol in place for the management of data breach incidents that may occur.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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377. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the expenditure on Defence Forces food in 2019 and 2020; the starting income and other allowances for Defence Forces chefs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29673/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Defence Forces food requirements, both at home and overseas and encompassing rations, pack rations, provisions and front of house catering services, are provided for from within Subhead A.14.3.  (Defence Forces: Catering and Provisions) of the Defence Vote. The amounts spent on Defence Forces food requirements in 2019 and 2020 are set out in the table below.

Public Sector pay and allowance rates are determined centrally by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. All Defence Forces personnel are in receipt of basic pay and applicable allowances as determined by their rank, length of service and qualifications.

Currently, the ranks serving as Chefs in the Defence Forces are all pre-2013 entrants and range in rank from Corporal to Company Quartermaster Sergeant. The weekly basic pre-2013 pay rate of a Corporal extends from €628.69 to €662.63, with an additional entitlement to a weekly Military Service Allowance payment of €133.05. The weekly basic pre-2013 pay rate of a Company Quartermaster Sergeant extends from €785.38 to €845.05, with an additional entitlement to a weekly Military Service Allowance payment of €141.63. In addition, all pre-2013 Defence Forces Chefs with the appropriate qualifications also receive an additional Chef’s Allowance payment of €56.77 per week.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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378. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current and capital funding dedicated to the Army Ranger Wing and Naval Service divers in 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29674/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Vote 36 Defence is managed through a single programme with all operational outputs delivered from a single set of forces encompassing the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service. Dedicated current and capital expenditure costs for the Army Ranger Wing and Naval Service divers are not identified separately, but are included in the overall programme costs across the appropriate subheads of the Vote.

Defence Current and Capital expenditure in 2019 and 2020 is as set out in the table below.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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379. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the cost of purchasing petrol and diesel for Defence Forces vehicles in 2019 and 2020; the number of electric vehicles; the number of electric vehicle charging points in Defence Forces installations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29675/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The acquisition of new equipment and the upgrading of equipment for the Defence Forces remains a clear focus for the Defence Organisation. Future equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the White Paper on Defence as part of the capability development and equipment priorities planning process.

In this context the principal aim over the period of the White Paper is to replace and upgrade, as required, existing capabilities in order to retain a flexible response for a wide range of operational requirements at home and overseas. Budget 2021 provides a Capital allocation of €131m for investment in Defence equipment and barracks infrastructure and will enable continued investment in major equipment platforms such as Defence Forces vehicle fleet. The increased capital funding for 2021 builds on increased levels of capital expenditure totalling €392m over the years 2018 – 2020.

Certain purchasing is carried out by the Defence Forces directly under delegation of financial responsibility which permits the Defence Forces to procure a wide range of goods and services directly, this includes the purchasing of non-armoured vehicles and fuel for the entire fleet.

I am advised by the military authorities that the total cost (inclusive of VAT) of purchasing petrol and diesel for the Defence Forces fleet of vehicles in the years in question is as set out in the table below.

I am further advised by the military authorities that the Defence Forces vehicle fleet currently consists of approximately 1,700 individual vehicles of different types and configurations. Of this number there are currently forty one (41) electric powered vehicles (EVs) and three (3) hybrid vehicles.

The table below gives the full breakdown of the forty four vehicles by vehicle type and year of purchase.

Table 1: Breakdown of Defence Forces electric and hybrid vehicles by vehicle type and date of purchase

The Defence Forces maintain two fleets of vehicles; the military fleet and the administrative fleet. The military fleet, which consists of military specific vehicles such as armoured vehicles, trucks and off-road SUVs, comprises approximately 55% of the fleet. The administrative fleet are vehicles that can be purchased commercially such as saloon, stores vehicles and minibuses. They comprise approximately 45% of the Defence Forces fleet.

In line with Government policy in relation to the Clean Vehicle Directive, the Defence Forces are committed to procuring vehicles that have reduced carbon emissions.

Due to the specific nature and requirements of the military fleet of vehicles and the locations where they are likely to operate, these vehicles are Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) type and will be replaced, as required, with fossil fuel ICE vehicles for the reasons outlined above. The Defence Forces, however, endeavours to replace these ICE vehicles with more energy efficient models where possible. For example, the new SUV and Troop Carrying Vehicle (TCV) fleets will be replaced with EURO 6 compliant engines which will result in a 50% reduction in emissions compared to the older EURO 3 engines which they replace.

The Defence Forces has committed to replacing the administrative fleet with energy efficient (green vehicles) as the technology allows. To date the investment in energy efficient vehicles as outlined in Table 1 above amounts to €1.2m inclusive of VAT. The Defence Forces has committed to spend a minimum of 6% of the DF vehicle replacement budget on EV starting in 2020 and a minimum of 8% in 2021, with a commitment to increase investment by a minimum of 2% of budget each subsequent year. Already in 2021 the Defence Forces have taken delivery of eight (8) EV saloons and an electric buggy. A further eight (8) EV stores vehicles have been ordered with delivery expected in Q2.

The Corps of Engineers have also invested in supporting infrastructure with the installation of 19 EV chargers across 16 Defence Forces locations to sustain the enlargement of the Defence Forces Electric Vehicle fleet into the future.

I am satisfied that, with these new acquisitions and the planning for future clean vehicle procurements, the Defence Forces will continue to have the necessary modern and effective range of equipment available to them in order to fulfil all roles assigned to them by Government.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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380. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the estimated cost of providing tech pay to defence personnel in the CIS corps in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29676/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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For reasons of operational security, It would be inappropriate for me to comment on specific matters relating to the Defence Forces' Communications and Information Service (CIS). 

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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381. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there will be a recruitment competition aimed at attracting skillsets such as cyber security, statisticians and data analysts in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29677/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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It has not been possible to gather the required information in the tunraround time for PQs. I will revert to the Deputy when the information has been gathered.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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382. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of courses cancelled or postponed in 2020 and to date in 2021 due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29679/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In 2021, 19 courses were paused in January in response to COVID-19 pandemic conditions at that time and rescheduled for later in the 2021 training year. One (1) course of training was cancelled and deferred until 2022 pending a Training Needs Analysis.

In 2020, the DF Training Management System records that 77 courses were cancelled. 153 courses are recorded as pending, commenced, deferred or suspended.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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383. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Permanent Defence Forces personnel who have applied to re-enlist to date; the number reinducted by rank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29680/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Last April, the former Minister with responsibility for Defence, launched a scheme to re-enlist former Permanent Defence Force (PDF) enlisted personnel. The focus of the scheme was those former PDF personnel with particular skillsets, identified by the Chief of Staff, where shortages exist  The scheme allows for initial re-enlistment for a minimum of six months and up to 3 years and the duration of the re-enlistment offered depends on the vacancies that exist.

As of 30 April 2021, following recommendations from the Chief of Staff, 56 personnel have been inducted. The number of personnel, by rank, that have re-enlisted to date under the scheme for the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps, is broken down as follows:

I understand that the Chief of Staff will make further recommendations for personnel to be re-enlisted in the coming period. 

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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384. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of all Naval Service ships currently not at sea; the reason they are not at sea; when they will be ready to be deployed once again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29681/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. In this context, I would highlight the security role of the Naval Service, a role which by its nature can go unrecognised or unacknowledged. I am advised that the fleet is managed to ensure maximum availability to meet operational requirements.

The Naval Service has nine ships. Two ships are currently in operational reserve but can be called upon for surge operations in times of national emergency, as was the case when a ship was taken out of operational reserve and deployed to Cork City for COVID-19 support to the HSE for a number of weeks last year. In addition one ship is in the process of a mid-life re-fit which is expected to last 18 - 24 months. There are 6 operational ships that remain available at present.

The Deputy will appreciate that, for operational and security reasons, it would not be appropriate to disclose details of the operational deployment of any individual vessel in the Naval Service. I can assure the Deputy that notwithstanding current challenges being experienced, the Naval Service continues to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including fishery protection and maritime security operations.