Fears Chad mission will cut home Army funds

CONCERNED soldier representatives yesterday warned the €60 million per annum mission to Chad may lead to cuts in Army funds at home.

More than 350 Defence Force soldiers will be deployed there early next year.

The Dáil still has to agree to back the EU-led operation to protect civilians and thousands of refugees who have fled neighbouring war-torn Sudan.

Defence Minister Willie O’Dea has said it will be the most expensive mission ever undertaken by the Army.

PDFORRA, which represents rank-and-file soldiers, questioned yesterday if funds for the Chad mission could eat into the Army’s overall budget for building, training and equipment at home.

“It’s going to leave a gap back home unless the Department of Finance opens the purse strings,” said PDFORRA’s deputy general secretary, Simon Devereux.

Unlike Irish UN-linked missions to the Lebanon and Liberia, the EU operation will not be reimbursed.

The new programme for Government has pledged to keep Army numbers at 10,500, as well as upgrade barrack facilities and equipment and develop the medical corps. Plans are also afoot to expand the air corps and naval service, including the purchase of three new ships.

Soldiers’ representatives fear the annual €60m for Chad could see some promises reneged on unless the Army’s budget is boosted.

“We want supplementary funding for the mission in its entirety. The EU is not funding any of it. But we expect the Defence Force’s plans to be implemented,” said Mr Devereux.

Attending the Irish Conference of Professional and Service Associations, he added: “We are now in an era when we are asking troops to serve on the EU Task Force in the best interests of safety and security. The Defence Forces was deprived of much-needed funding for equipment, pay and conditions for several decades and this must never be allowed to happen again.”

Mr O’Dea yesterday signalled he would not be rowing back from the modernisation of the force as well as key capital projects promised. However, funding for Chad still needs to be secured, confirmed his spokeswoman.

“The negotiation process is still ongoing with the Minister for Finance. A memo on funding for Chad will go to Government in the next two to three weeks.”