Scrap the RDF. What can you use the money for instead?

[ZULU]

After An Board Snip, the recommendation is for the RDF Pay budget to go to 3 million approx.

What can you buy for this say over the next 3 years. (Recession over hopefully, emerging stronger economy)

So for 9 million over the next 3 years.

Some options.

Army:

New rifle Optics

4,500 ACOG sights taken at 2,000 euro each, this price representing combined unit, maintenance, trg and accessories.

http://www.trijicon.com/pdfs/acog.pdf

400 Trijicon Advanced Thermal Weapon sights

http://www.trijicon.com/user/parts/products1.cfm?PartID=754&back_row=0&categoryID=16

1,500 (AN/PVS-18 Style) Night Vision Monocular GEN III

http://www.ownthenight.com/catalog/i27.html

3 x MOWAG with .5cal/30mm

http://www.defence.ie/WebSite.nsf/Document+ID/B1846F48119EA8BA8025710F00585823?editDocument

Development of dedicated modern modular and fixed FIBUA facilites at either Kilworth or Glen trg areas.

http://www.fortpickett.net/dpts_range_ops/training_facilities/other_training_facilities/index.html

http://www.atsshoothouse.com/modularshoothouse.shtml

Air Corp:

3/4 purchase of another AW139 at a unit cost of 12.1 million

http://www.defence.ie/WebSite.nsf/Speech+ID/77B5505A10BB1797802571C7004FFAB9?OpenDocument

1/5 purchase of C27 J Spartan transport aircraft

http://www.c27j.cz/index.php?page=letoun-c27j&lang=en

1/5 purchase of NH90 helicopter

http://www.airforce.mil.nz/about-us/aircraft/nh90/nh90-helicopter.htm

Navy:

Payment towards new ships which if continued would see a ship of 60 million euro paid for in full in only 6.5 years.

[johnny no stars]

Does it have to be DoD spending?

If not, change hospital cleaning from contract cleaners to incentive based hospital employed cleaners and bring in MORE of them.

A new special needs school

The development of something like the YMCA is in the USA


Any of those would be good with me

[DeV]

Any saving recommended by Bord Snip are to reduce Government spending not to allow it to be allocated to something else.

Based on the current tax take (and no major changes to taxation) cuts of AT LEAST €4 billion are required in 2010, on top of the € 3 billion in 2009.

[Hello Alaska]

Does it have to be DoD spending?

If not, change hospital cleaning from contract cleaners to incentive based hospital employed cleaners and bring in MORE of them.

A new special needs school

The development of something like the YMCA is in the USA


Any of those would be good with me

Yes, it should have to be DoD spending.

We've a shit Defence budget as it is, the other Departments have their own budgets and the DoH in particular has a rather large one... Let them use their own money, if they can't use it properly other Departments shouldn't have to suffer.

[ZULU]

Any saving recommended by Bord Snip are to reduce Government spending not to allow it to be allocated to something else.

.

Thats what I've taken into account in my original post.

The 3 million refers to the RDF budget AFTER cuts.

What the DoD / MA decide what to do with the budget is up to them.


For example, who says they have to spend the 3.2 million euro on military training? They could reduce this to 2 million and use the other 1.2 million on say equipment.

And if this is not the case. Who decides on what to spend and where to spend it on?

[ZULU]

Does it have to be DoD spending?

Yes. Its in line with the thread title.

[DeV]

Thats what I've taken into account in my original post.

The 3 million refers to the RDF budget AFTER cuts.

What the DoD / MA decide what to do with the budget is up to them.


For example, who says they have to spend the 3.2 million euro on military training? They could reduce this to 2 million and use the other 1.2 million on say equipment.

And if this is not the case. Who decides on what to spend and where to spend it on?

Depends on the sub-head.... Minister, Secretary General DOD, DCOS, DCOS, Corps Directors etc

If the Government wants to scrap the RDF and save approx € 3 million, the chances are it will not be reinvested in the DF!

[johnny no stars]

Ok so... From the sounds of it (correct me if I'm wrong) but DF accommodation leaves a bit to be desired. Why not improve the living conditions of all the PDF living in? Plough it into upgrading accommodation and recreation facilities in year one.

After that, spend the money ensuring that troops overseas have adequate air and vehicle support. I've no idea how much that costs though.

[Bam Bam]

Use the money to re-finance the banks

[Bravo20]

Ok so... From the sounds of it (correct me if I'm wrong) but DF accommodation leaves a bit to be desired. Why not improve the living conditions of all the PDF living in? Plough it into upgrading accommodation and recreation facilities in year one.

After that, spend the money ensuring that troops overseas have adequate air and vehicle support. I've no idea how much that costs though.

A lot more than the RDF costs at the moment

[paul g]

You also have to factor in the cost of

A) buying new uniforms/kit for an RDF that has a high turnover.

B) the cost of renting places for RDF training.

C) Cadre pay and pensions

D) fuel/and all the hidden costs associated with the RDF, everything from the electricity used during RDF training to transporting people to tactical exercises, to the cost of ammunition used during training.

Reducing the RDF and its pay will also save money in lots of other areras.

[DeV]

You also have to factor in the cost of

A) buying new uniforms/kit for an RDF that has a high turnover.

B) the cost of renting places for RDF training.

C) Cadre pay and pensions

D) fuel/and all the hidden costs associated with the RDF, everything from the electricity used during RDF training to transporting people to tactical exercises.

The €3 million saved is after closing most (if not all) locations outside occupied barracks & getting rid of most (around 75% (if not more)) cadre.

[hedgehog]

get the cost of poles ( the bif shiny stright things not the lads whose name end in owsky)

get the price of sparkles

deduct that

[Keef]

Ah now... there's a use for the RDF... Last Sunday we got a "Re-introduction" to the Steyr... We got to clean 3 rifles each.
Haha...

[Bravo20]

Has to be done, the weapons don't clean themselves