Cutbacks hit army Christmas boxes

CHRISTMAS boxes which military families send to Irish soldiers serving abroad with the UN are the latest to come under threat from cutbacks.

The families of a Limerick battalion departing for Chad next week revealed yesterday they were told they will not be able to send presents overseas — due to budget constraints.

The issue came to light as a total of 408 Irish soldiers, members of the 101st Infantry Battalion participated in a march past in Limerick where Defence Minister Willie O’Dea took the revue stand.

Michelle Deegan, from Mayorstone, who watched her father, Quarter Master Sergeant Mike Deegan, 45, take part in yesterday’s Chad departure march said: “We were told that this year, for the first time due to cutbacks, the army will not be delivering Christmas boxes sent by families.

“Families usually send out boxes of presents, but it seems the cutbacks may prevent that this year. I have contacted Willie O’Dea’s office in Limerick about it.”

After yesterday’s ceremony, Mr O’Dea said he had been contacted by constituents, who have family members going out to Chad, about the Christmas boxes.

“I have had representations on that and I am looking into it. We’ll do our best to facilitate them in this regard and we will have to look at the logistical situation and we will talk to the military during the week.”

A spokesman for the army said the Christmas boxes issue was being looked into and it would all depend on available space on aircraft, as the priority was medical supplies and equipment.

Mr O’Dea, asked about a recommendation in the Bord Snip report to cease Irish operations in Chad next March, said it was his wish to keep Irish troops in the central African state for the next two or three years.

He added: “They are doing a marvellous job and there is an awful lot of work still to do. They have played a tremendous part in stabilising a very difficult situation out there.”