(An appendix to the Strategy Statements publication 1977-1999)

OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE AND THE DEFENCE FORCES

The right to raise and maintain military or armed forces is vested exclusively in the Oireachtas by the Constitution. The Defence Act, 1954 (which is the principal statute providing for the regulation of the Defence Forces) provides that it shall be lawful for the Government to raise and maintain Defence Forces. Section 17 of the Defence Act, 1954 provides that, under the direction of the President, the military command of and all executive functions and administrative powers in relation to the Defence Forces, including the power to delegate command and authority are exercised by the Government through and by the Minister for Defence. In this manner, civil control is centralised in the Minister who has assigned to him a Civil Service staff, under the Secretary of the Department of Defence, as the statutory designated principal officer of the Department.

The Department of Defence

The Department of Defence is a Department of State established by the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924. This legislation assigns to the Department "the administration and business of the raising, training, organisation, maintenance, equipment, management, discipline, regulation and control according to law of the military defence forces." In accordance with that Act, the Minister for Defence is the head of the Department. The Department is also responsible for the administration of pensions and associated matters under the various Army Pensions Acts, Military Service Pensions Acts and Defence Forces Pensions Acts. Civil Defence is also a major responsibility of the Department. The Secretary of the Department is the Accounting Officer for the Defence and Army Pension Votes.

The Department of Defence is different to other Government Departments in that in addition to its civil service component it also contains military branches. In accordance with the Defence Act, 1954 there are three principal military office holders (the Chief of Staff, Adjutant-General and Quartermaster- General) who are assigned specific duties pursuant to the Act. The three principal military office holders are directly responsible to the Minister for the performance of these duties. Military command authority is delegated directly by the Minister to the General Officer Commanding each of four Commands (Eastern, Western, Southern and Curragh), the General Officer Commanding Air Corps, the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Service and the Officer Commanding the Observer Corps.

The Defence Forces
Section 18 provides for the existence of the Defence Forces consisting of the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force. The Permanent Defence Force comprises officers and enlisted personnel and members of the Army Nursing Service.

Financial framework

Public funds for defence purposes are provided through two major funds voted by the Dáil - the Defence Vote (Vote 36) which amounted to some £385m in 1996 and the Army Pensions Vote (Vote 37) of some £70m in 1996. The principal elements of the Defence Vote are set out in the table below.

Summary of the Defence Vote	£ Million
Administrative Budget (includes Civil Service pay and allowances)	10.3
Defence and Reserve Forces Pay and Allowances	275.5
Civilian Employees Pay and Allowances	20.6
Defensive Equipment and Mechanical Transport	10.4
Aircraft	12.9
Ships and Naval Stores	3.2
Buildings and Lands	14.2
Other non-pay military expenditure	42.2
Civil Defence	2.5
Irish Red Cross	0.5
Coiste an Asgard (Sail Training Scheme)	0.4

Summary of the Defence Vote	£ Million
Gross Defence Vote	392.7
Less Appropriations in Aid (including receipts from United Nations)	7.3
Net Defence Vote	385.4

The Civil Service Branches of the Department of Defence

The Civil Service element of the Department comprising over 430 permanent civil servants who, under the control of the Secretary, are responsible for the administration of the Department on behalf of the Minister. The Department's headquarters is in Dublin and 180 civil servants are located in the Department's decentralised office in Renmore, Galway.

There are ten Civil Service branches in the Department as listed below, each headed by an officer at Principal level.

Defence Forces Legislation and Personnel Branch;
Defence Forces Organisation Branch
Properties Management Branch
Personnel Branch
Contracts Branch
Civil Defence Branch
Executive Branch
Defence Forces Conciliation and Arbitration Branch;
Management Services Branch, and Finance Branch

There follows a brief resume of the activities of the various branches of the Department. This does not purport to be in any way comprehensive, but rather is intended to give a general outline of the areas for which each branch is responsible.

DEFENCE FORCES LEGISLATION & PERSONNEL BRANCH

This Section has responsibility for the preparation of Departmental legislation and the examination of outside legislation for its impact on Defence policy and the work of the Department. The Section performs a range of functions concerning Defence Forces personnel e.g. recruitment, appointments, retirements, promotions and training. The Section is further responsible for the management of compensation claims brought against the Minister by members of the Defence Forces including those for hearing loss.

DEFENCE FORCES ORGANISATION BRANCH

This section has responsibility for overseeing and monitoring the reorganisation of the Defence Forces in accordance with the Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan approved by Government in March 1996 (described earlier under the Defence Forces Review Plan programme). Among other things, the plan also identifies a number of areas requiring special, in-depth study; the branch is involved with the initiation and conduct of the studies. Additionally, the Branch has responsibility for media affairs.

PERSONNEL BRANCH

This has two main areas of responsibility. The first concerns all aspects of Civil Service personnel management related to the 430 staffing complement, while the other is the recruitment, personnel management and industrial relations functions relating to civilian employees of which some 1,300 are employed in various capacities with the Defence Forces throughout the country.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT BRANCH

This area is responsible for the overall management of all State property (some 21,000 acres) under the control of the Department. It also arranges for the lease or purchase of property for temporary or permanent use, arranges the disposal of surplus property and the letting or grazing of property and lands not immediately required for official use.

CONTRACTS BRANCH

This area examines and evaluates proposals in relation to the procurement of an extensive range of equipment, general supplies, building and engineering services, etc. Particular attention is given to any such proposals which may have major purchase, high expenditure, new programme or similar implications to ensure that all approvals necessary for their implementation are obtained . The branch arranges the procurement of defensive equipment and Air Corps and Naval Service equipment and maintenance requirements as well as placing contracts for the bulk of building and engineering works and services. In regard to other requirements, a procedure for delegating budgetary responsibility to the military authorities has been in place over the last few years which permits the procurement of a wide range of goods and services to be arranged by military personnel - food, fuel, clothing, certain general stores, etc. In certain areas the services of the Government Supplies Agency may be engaged for procurement of items in common demand by a number of Departments. The arrangements will be continued and developed in 1997.

Further functions include arranging certain purchasing on behalf of Civil Defence and Management Services Branch and authorising the payment of accounts for certain medical treatment and services provided for members of the Defence Forces from civilian sources.

All procurement must be undertaken in accordance with guidelines, rules and regulations specified by Government and by the European Union.

CIVIL DEFENCE BRANCH

This area is responsible for administration, training, financing and equipping the Civil Defence organisation. It is responsible for the policy development and general direction of the volunteer organisation through the Local Authorities. The Branch, which includes the Civil Defence School - its national training centre - is located in Ratra House, in Phoenix Park. Expenditure incurred by Local Authorities on Civil Defence is grant-aided to the extent of 70% by this Department. Civil Defence was established in 1950 primarily to provide for the protection of the civilian population in wartime. In recent years, owing to international changes, the organisation has focused on serving the needs of local communities. There are about 12,000 volunteer members in the Civil Defence organisation, of whom some 6,000 are in active training.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

This area has responsibility for a wide range of functions including such matters as the service of members of the Permanent Defence Force overseas with the United Nations. In addition, administrative matters in relation to aid to the civil power, air/sea rescue, fishery protection and control of pollution at sea, the utilisation of the Defence Forces in maintaining essential community services during industrial disputes, the operation of the Ministerial Air Transport Service and miscellaneous activities in relation to participation by the Army Equitation School in show-jumping competitions, military participation in ceremonial occasions, applications from civil agencies for the services of the Defence Forces e.g. Army Band engagements and hiring out of military equipment.

DEFENCE FORCES CONCILIATION & ARBITRATION BRANCH

This branch was created following the establishment of representative associations for members of the Defence Forces (RACO - the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers) and (PDFORRA - the Permanent Defence Force Representative Association), and the Reserve Defence Forces (RDFRA - the Reserve Defence Force Representative Association). The branch also deals with the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) which represents members of the Army Nursing Service. A scheme of conciliation and arbitration was established for RACO and PDFORRA in 1993 and the branch is responsible for the administration of that scheme. The branch also has responsibility for Legal Aid, Complaints and Petitions.

MANAGEMENT SERVICES BRANCH

This area is responsible for organisation, planning and research, analysis, evaluation and information technology. Its functions include coordinating and driving the Strategic Management Initiative-Delivering Better Government programme and value for money. The branch has major responsibilities in relation to the design, provision and maintenance of the Department's information technology and telecommunications systems. The branch also has responsibility for the Department's management development and training function including IT training.

FINANCE BRANCH

This area is a major division of the Department in terms of staff numbers with a staff of about 160, the majority of whom are located in Galway. The branch is under the control of the Financial Controller who together with Management Accounts Section, is based in Dublin. All payments made by the Department are processed through the Finance Branch - total payments for 1996 will amount to about £450m. Finance Branch is divided the following functional areas:

ACCOUNTS / PAYMENTS SECTION

This area has responsibility for the preparation of the Defence and Army Pensions Appropriation Accounts, payment of accounts for supplies/services provided to the Department and the Defence Forces, and the compilation of forecasts of expenditure.

PAYROLL SECTION

This area has responsibility for the issue of pay and allowances to all military personnel, civilian employees working with the military and civil service staff.

PENSIONS SECTION

This area is responsible for the formulation and implementation of pensions policy, legislation and regulations in respect of ex-members of the Defence Forces, veterans of the War of Independence and their dependants. The section issues in excess of 11,000 pension payments each month.

INTERNAL AUDIT SECTION

This area acts as an independent unit which reports to management on the adequacy of controls which operate in the various areas of activity of the Department. This area also is responsible for the auditing and inspection of Defence Forces stores and accounts.

MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS SECTION

This area is under the charge of the Department's professional accountant this section co-ordinates the preparation of the Defence Estimates and of briefing material for the Estimates and the Public Accounts Committee. It has responsibility for general expenditure monitoring, the preparation of costings for various purposes, and the development of the management accounting function in the Department.

The Military Branches of the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces

The Defence Forces comprise a Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and a Reserve Defence Force (RDF). The broad organisation consists of a Defence Forces Headquarters (DFHQ), four territorial Commands, the Air Corps and the Naval Service. Each of the territorial commands comprises a Brigade (PDF), a second-line army reserve (FCA) component and a standard number of garrison support units (PDF). Units are organised on the basis of Corps which represent the full range of professional expertise and skills currently regarded as necessary for the Defence Forces to meet its assigned roles. The list of Corps and their designation is as follows:

Combat: Infantry Corps

Combat Support: Artillery Corps, Cavalry Corps, Engineer Corps, and Signals Corps.

Combat Service Support: Ordnance Corps, Supply and Transport Corps, Military Police Corps, Medical Corps.

The Air Corps and Naval Service both have the specialist and personnel characteristics of a service corps within the Defence Forces but have distinct command characteristics.

In addition to Corps units, the Defence Forces have a number of other specialist units known as special establishments. The special establishments include, among others, the Military College, the Army School of Music, the Army School of Catering, Military Information Technology Section, the Army Ranger Wing and the Equitation School.

The strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 12,378 on 30 September 1996. Total Reserve Defence Force membership at the same date was 15,650 comprising a First Line Reserve of 533, FCA 14,858 and Slua Muiri 259.

Defence Forces Headquarters

Each of the principal military office holders heading these branches have separate duties and responsibilities delegated by the Minister for Defence and are responsible to the Minister in respect of the discharge of these duties.

The Chief of Staff

The main duties of the Chief of Staff are:

- the effectiveness of military measures to ensure the safety of the State in accordance with the general policy of Government;
- the fighting efficiency and training of the Defence Forces;
- the distribution and movement of troops after consultation with the Minister for Defence;
- the organisation of the Defence Forces; and,
- the co-ordination of the business of the three military branches.

The Chief of Staff's Branch contains a number of staff sections including Operations, Intelligence, Training, Planning and Research, Reserve Forces and Information Technology. It also has the following Corps Directorates - Artillery, Cavalry and Signals. In addition, the Chief of Staff has direct responsibility for the Military College and the Army Ranger Wing, both based in the Curragh Command.

The Adjutant-General

The main duties of the Adjutant-General are:

- personnel management of the Defence Forces;
- administration and enforcement of military law, courts martial and associated legal matters;
- medical services;
- provision for attendance at ceremonial occasions;
- the management of delegated budgets.

The Quartermaster-General

The main duties of the Quartermaster-General are:

- to carry out the military aspects of the logistics functions in respect of armaments, equipment and general supplies;
- to carry out the military aspects of the logistics functions in respect of the transportation of troops and stores;
- the military aspects of the provision and maintenance of military installations; and the management of delegated budgets.

Under the Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan the top management arrangements in the Defence Forces will be rationalised. The duties of the principal military office holders (i.e. the Chief of Staff, the Adjutant-General and the Quartermaster-General) will be revised and assigned in full to the Chief of Staff and delegated as appropriate to the holders of two new appointments. The appointments of Adjutant-General and Quartermaster-General will be abolished. The Chief of Staff would retain responsibility for strategic planning and public relations matters; the remaining duties would be delegated to two deputies one with responsibility for operational matters Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) and one with responsibility for support matters Deputy Chief of Staff (Support). The effect of this arrangement is to have the Chief of Staff responsible for the performance of the Defence Forces and the sole reporting officer to the Minister in respect of the discharge of military staff duties at Defence Forces Headquarters. Legislative change is required to give effect to these proposals - draft heads of a bill are to be finalised shortly.

The present military command arrangements will not be altered. The present practice of long-standing whereby matters in relation to command are normally channelled through the Chief of Staff will be maintained.

Organisational Structure at Command and Brigade level.

At present there are four territorial Commands (Eastern, Curragh, Southern, and Western) which provide for the command and control of the operational, training, administrative and logistic requirements of the various elements of the Defence Forces within defined geographical limits. Each of the Commands is headed by a General Officer Commanding (GOC) at the rank of Brigadier General.

Each Command has within it a Brigade which is the basic military formation within which all-arms combat operations may be conducted. Each brigade consists of at least two operational Infantry Battalions and has combat support units such as Artillery, Cavalry, Engineers and Signals and combat service support units such as Supply and Transport. The brigade is designed to operate independently "in the field" albeit with support from the territorial command. Each Command also has an FCA component, organised into units on a geographical and corps basis.

On a day-to-day basis the Commands provide training and logistical support to the Brigades, to the FCA and to the Special Establishment units through standard garrison support units such as a Training Depot, a Maintenance Engineer Company, a Military Police Company, an Ordnance Company and a Hospital Company.

There will be important rationalisation of the organisation and structures under the Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan. The existing command structure will be removed; the overall shape of the new structure will comprise: Defence Forces Headquarters; 3 Infantry Brigade Groups; Air Corps; Naval Service; Defence Forces Training Centre; Logistics Base.

The Infantry Brigade Group is the main operational element of the army and the basic military formation with a conventional all arms combat capability. Brigade headquarters will contain the four staff sections of personnel, intelligence, operations and logistics, and be headed by a commander in the rank of Brigadier General. The Brigade components and strengths are: three infantry battalions (483 each); an artillery regiment (220); a cavalry squadron (125); a field engineering company (91); a field information and communications company (73); a logistics battalion (276); and a training centre (22).

Air Corps

The Air Corps organisation comprises two flying wings - one for fixed wing operations and one for rotary wing operations, a training wing, an engineering maintenance wing, an administrative wing and an air support signals company. All of these wings and the company are based at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel. In addition, there is an Army Co-operation Squadron which also carries out fixed wing operations based at Gormanston Air Station. A helicopter is also stationed at Finner Camp in County Donegal. The personnel strength of the Air Corps, excluding army attachments, is about 1,100. It operates a fleet of twenty four fixed wing aircraft and 15 helicopters.

Naval Service

Document last modified on: 07/04/97