2010 ESTIMATES FOR DEFENCE
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
MR. TONY KILLEEN, T.D.,
BEFORE THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
JUSTICE, EQUALITY, DEFENCE
AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Thursday, 17 June 2010.
Chairman, Members
I am pleased to appear before the Committee today for its consideration of the Defence and Army Pensions Estimates and the Defence Annual Output Statement for 2010.
Annual Output Statement
The Annual Output Statement describes the joint outputs of the civil and military elements of the Defence Organisation. The statement for 2010 contains information on performance for 2009 and targets for 2010. It matches financial and staffing resources to key outputs for each year. The same Defence capabilities are utilised to produce outputs in support of multiple objectives across differing programme headings. The outputs reflect the demands placed, or likely to be placed, on the Defence Organisation.
The outturn cost for programmes in 2009 is based on the actual activity throughout that year. The estimated 2010 cost shown for each programme in the Output Statement reflects the anticipated activity at the beginning of this year. Consequently, changes in projected activity levels that occur during the course of 2010, such as the earlier than anticipated withdrawal from Chad, are not reflected in the 2010 estimated programme costs. The outturn for each programme in 2010 will be based on actual activity during 2010 and will be reported in next year’s Output Statement
Combined estimates provision etc
The combined Estimates for Defence and Army Pensions for 2010 provide for gross expenditure of some €965 million, including €1 million by way of capital carryover. This compares with actual expenditure in 2009 of €1,013 million, including capital carryover of €3 million. The Defence estimate broadly reflects the reductions in expenditure as recommended by the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes.
The prevailing economic environment and the associated resource constraints have impacted on the entire Defence Organisation. The financial situation is such that it is not possible to provide the level of resourcing that was previously available. I am pleased to say that the Defence Forces are in a healthy state to meet the challenges posed by the reduced financial allocations. They have improved in every respect since 2000. Comprehensive reform of structure and human resources, together with significant investment in infrastructure and equipment, has been achieved during the past ten years.
It is clear that 2011 will be another difficult year and that further significant reductions in public spending will be required. Based on my own first-hand experience since my appointment as Minister for Defence, I have every confidence that the Defence Organisation will rise to this challenge. The challenge of “doing more with less” faces the entire public service. Defence has a proud record of achievement in this area and serves as a model for other sectors. I would like to put on record my thanks to all members of the Defence Organisation for their contribution to this success story.
Strengths, recruitment, etc
The Defence Estimate includes provision for the pay and allowances of up to 10,000 Permanent Defence Force personnel, 770 civilians employed with the Defence Forces throughout the country and some 360 civil service staff. It also provides for the pay of members of the Reserve while on full-time training. The Army Pensions Estimate provides for the payment of over 10,000 service-related pensions and about 1,100 disability related benefits to former members of the Defence Forces and their spouses and children.
I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as at 31 May 2010 was 9,809. Within the available resources, the Government is committed to maintaining the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at a level of 10,000 all ranks, for which Government approval was secured in the context of Budget 2010. This reflects the reductions in personnel recommended in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes.
Departmental officials are currently engaged with the military authorities in a review of the structures and posts required to meet the operational requirements of the Permanent Defence Force within the reduced numbers. Following on from this review, discussions will commence this month with the Department of Finance to agree an Employment Control Framework for the Defence Forces, which is sustainable within a figure of 10,000 personnel in the Permanent Defence Force.
In relation to recruitment, I have recently approved the recruitment of 40 recruits to the Naval Service. In addition, some limited general service recruitment to the Army will be advertised shortly.
While these are challenging times, my priority is to ensure that the Defence Forces are organised, equipped and staffed in a manner which will ensure that they can continue to deliver the services required of them by Government.
New White Paper
As indicated in the Renewed Programme for Government, a new White Paper on Defence will be prepared for the period 2011 to 2020. It is planned to submit a draft White Paper for Government approval in spring 2011. This new White Paper will build upon the first White Paper on Defence, published in 2000. This has guided the modernisation, reform and transformation of the Defence Organisation during the past decade.
The new White Paper will chart a course for the continued development of the Defence Organisation. It will be instrumental in guiding successive strategy statements.
Preliminary work has commenced and I intend bringing a memorandum to Government in the near future. This will outline the proposed approach in advance of formally launching the process.
Equipment and infrastructure
There has been very significant investment in equipment and infrastructure in the Defence Forces over the past ten years. Since taking up my brief as Minister I have seen at first hand the fruits of that investment and indeed the modern equipment available to Irish soldiers is now second to none. The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces is, of course, a priority for me and a matter that will be kept under continuous review.
However, it is imperative that the Department and the Defence Forces look to whatever efficiencies we can make taking into account the current difficult economic environment and the overall financial envelope available for military equipment over the coming years. The budgetary situation will dictate the level of funding available for new equipment and upgrades in that period and decisions will be made accordingly. In that context the acquisition of Defensive Equipment will be on a prioritised basis to match operational capabilities and requirements.
Several important equipment purchases are being advanced in 2010 including the acquisition of 27 Light Tactical Armoured Vehicles (LTAVs), 45 (¾ Ton) 4 x 4 patrol vehicles and 2 Heavy Recovery Vehicles for the Defence Forces. Other transport related acquisitions scheduled this year include 22 Minibuses, 2 ambulances and 4 midi-coaches for troop transportation. In addition, funding is provided on a continuous basis for the required maintenance of the vehicles in the military transport fleet.
With regard to the LTAV’s, their acquisition has been a top priority for the Defence Forces given the extensive nature of their roles on overseas Peace Support Missions, the threat from improvised explosive devices and the potential for hostile fire in certain threat environments. Force protection remains a key issue in overseas peace support operations and it is very important that vehicles such as these are available to our personnel for future missions when they arise. The contract for the supply of the 27 LTAVs was awarded to BAE Systems based in South Africa in December 2008. The delivery of the first 17 vehicles has recently taken place. The other 10 vehicles will be delivered by the beginning of August 2010.
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
MR. TONY KILLEEN, T.D.,
BEFORE THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
JUSTICE, EQUALITY, DEFENCE
AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Thursday, 17 June 2010.
Chairman, Members
I am pleased to appear before the Committee today for its consideration of the Defence and Army Pensions Estimates and the Defence Annual Output Statement for 2010.
Annual Output Statement
The Annual Output Statement describes the joint outputs of the civil and military elements of the Defence Organisation. The statement for 2010 contains information on performance for 2009 and targets for 2010. It matches financial and staffing resources to key outputs for each year. The same Defence capabilities are utilised to produce outputs in support of multiple objectives across differing programme headings. The outputs reflect the demands placed, or likely to be placed, on the Defence Organisation.
The outturn cost for programmes in 2009 is based on the actual activity throughout that year. The estimated 2010 cost shown for each programme in the Output Statement reflects the anticipated activity at the beginning of this year. Consequently, changes in projected activity levels that occur during the course of 2010, such as the earlier than anticipated withdrawal from Chad, are not reflected in the 2010 estimated programme costs. The outturn for each programme in 2010 will be based on actual activity during 2010 and will be reported in next year’s Output Statement
Combined estimates provision etc
The combined Estimates for Defence and Army Pensions for 2010 provide for gross expenditure of some €965 million, including €1 million by way of capital carryover. This compares with actual expenditure in 2009 of €1,013 million, including capital carryover of €3 million. The Defence estimate broadly reflects the reductions in expenditure as recommended by the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes.
The prevailing economic environment and the associated resource constraints have impacted on the entire Defence Organisation. The financial situation is such that it is not possible to provide the level of resourcing that was previously available. I am pleased to say that the Defence Forces are in a healthy state to meet the challenges posed by the reduced financial allocations. They have improved in every respect since 2000. Comprehensive reform of structure and human resources, together with significant investment in infrastructure and equipment, has been achieved during the past ten years.
It is clear that 2011 will be another difficult year and that further significant reductions in public spending will be required. Based on my own first-hand experience since my appointment as Minister for Defence, I have every confidence that the Defence Organisation will rise to this challenge. The challenge of “doing more with less” faces the entire public service. Defence has a proud record of achievement in this area and serves as a model for other sectors. I would like to put on record my thanks to all members of the Defence Organisation for their contribution to this success story.
Strengths, recruitment, etc
The Defence Estimate includes provision for the pay and allowances of up to 10,000 Permanent Defence Force personnel, 770 civilians employed with the Defence Forces throughout the country and some 360 civil service staff. It also provides for the pay of members of the Reserve while on full-time training. The Army Pensions Estimate provides for the payment of over 10,000 service-related pensions and about 1,100 disability related benefits to former members of the Defence Forces and their spouses and children.
I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as at 31 May 2010 was 9,809. Within the available resources, the Government is committed to maintaining the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at a level of 10,000 all ranks, for which Government approval was secured in the context of Budget 2010. This reflects the reductions in personnel recommended in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes.
Departmental officials are currently engaged with the military authorities in a review of the structures and posts required to meet the operational requirements of the Permanent Defence Force within the reduced numbers. Following on from this review, discussions will commence this month with the Department of Finance to agree an Employment Control Framework for the Defence Forces, which is sustainable within a figure of 10,000 personnel in the Permanent Defence Force.
In relation to recruitment, I have recently approved the recruitment of 40 recruits to the Naval Service. In addition, some limited general service recruitment to the Army will be advertised shortly.
While these are challenging times, my priority is to ensure that the Defence Forces are organised, equipped and staffed in a manner which will ensure that they can continue to deliver the services required of them by Government.
New White Paper
As indicated in the Renewed Programme for Government, a new White Paper on Defence will be prepared for the period 2011 to 2020. It is planned to submit a draft White Paper for Government approval in spring 2011. This new White Paper will build upon the first White Paper on Defence, published in 2000. This has guided the modernisation, reform and transformation of the Defence Organisation during the past decade.
The new White Paper will chart a course for the continued development of the Defence Organisation. It will be instrumental in guiding successive strategy statements.
Preliminary work has commenced and I intend bringing a memorandum to Government in the near future. This will outline the proposed approach in advance of formally launching the process.
Equipment and infrastructure
There has been very significant investment in equipment and infrastructure in the Defence Forces over the past ten years. Since taking up my brief as Minister I have seen at first hand the fruits of that investment and indeed the modern equipment available to Irish soldiers is now second to none. The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces is, of course, a priority for me and a matter that will be kept under continuous review.
However, it is imperative that the Department and the Defence Forces look to whatever efficiencies we can make taking into account the current difficult economic environment and the overall financial envelope available for military equipment over the coming years. The budgetary situation will dictate the level of funding available for new equipment and upgrades in that period and decisions will be made accordingly. In that context the acquisition of Defensive Equipment will be on a prioritised basis to match operational capabilities and requirements.
Several important equipment purchases are being advanced in 2010 including the acquisition of 27 Light Tactical Armoured Vehicles (LTAVs), 45 (¾ Ton) 4 x 4 patrol vehicles and 2 Heavy Recovery Vehicles for the Defence Forces. Other transport related acquisitions scheduled this year include 22 Minibuses, 2 ambulances and 4 midi-coaches for troop transportation. In addition, funding is provided on a continuous basis for the required maintenance of the vehicles in the military transport fleet.
With regard to the LTAV’s, their acquisition has been a top priority for the Defence Forces given the extensive nature of their roles on overseas Peace Support Missions, the threat from improvised explosive devices and the potential for hostile fire in certain threat environments. Force protection remains a key issue in overseas peace support operations and it is very important that vehicles such as these are available to our personnel for future missions when they arise. The contract for the supply of the 27 LTAVs was awarded to BAE Systems based in South Africa in December 2008. The delivery of the first 17 vehicles has recently taken place. The other 10 vehicles will be delivered by the beginning of August 2010.
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