'Confusion' at defence reorganisation

There is “confusion”over whether or not the option of voluntary relocation would be open to Defence Force personnel, the organisation representing members said today.

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter last month announced a reorganisation of the Defence Forces and a reduction in the number of brigades from three to two.

PDFORRA said it had been “inundated” with calls regarding the reduction of the Defence Forces and relocation of members.

There was "confusion" over the “critical issue”of voluntary relocation PDFORRA said in a statement.

“It is now emerging that the actual extent of the movement of personnel is much greater than expected,” PDFORRA general secretary Gerry Rooney said.

The movement of personnel would involve members from Dublin relocating in Athlone and vice versa, the organisation said.

Several hundred personnel in Cork may also have to move to Limerick, it said.

“All of this will have significant implications for defence force families,” it said.

The organisation had been visiting barracks to “to establish the full extent of the impact of this recent downsizing on our members”, Mr Rooney said.

The organisation was “actively seeking clarification from management on the criteria being used for moving personnel from one post to another,” he said.

Mr Rooney expected that under the Croke Park agreement “ none of our members will have to experience involuntary relocation as part of the current reorganisation.”

A Department of Defence spokeswoman said discussions on the implementation of the re-organisation would take place with the representative associations and the department looked forward to engaging with them.

Last month Minister for Defence Alan Shatter said the purpose of the reorganisation was to “retain the capacity”of the Defence Forces to fulfil their roles within the 9,500 personnel ceiling announced in December.

Reducing the number of personnel engaged in “headquarters, administrative and allied support tasks”was a central element of the reorganisation, he said.