Displaying items by tag: Minister Coveney
Minister Coveney Opens Hostel for Homeless Defence Force Veterans
Minister for Defence Simon Coveney officially opened a hostel for homeless Defence Force veterans in Cobh, Cork Harbour.
On the occasion he said the Government is committed to working with the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen (ONE) to support former members of the Defence Forces who may have fallen on hard times.
Mr Coveney said that the Dept of Defence, together with the Defence Forces, had been working closely with the ONE to bring to fruition the charity’s plans to establish a network of 15 Veteran Support Centres around the country and the new hostel in Cobh is the 13th such support centre.
Officially opening the new ONE Veteran Support Centre and Hostel at Harbour Row in Cobh, Mr Coveney said it was a proud day for everyone in O.N.E to see the former Social Welfare building converted. The centre will offer a drop in advice centre as well as accommodation for veterans.
“The opening of the Brú na Farraige facility today is a significant milestone in the history of ONE . I know that ONE already has three residential homes in Bru na bhFiann in Smithfield in Dublin, Custume House in Athlone and Beechwood House in Letterkenny, ” said Mr Coveney.
“I am aware that ONE has been aware of the necessity to provide accommodation for retired members of the Defence Forces in Munster and particularly in the Cork area and the proximity to the Naval Service HQ in Haulbowline makes Cobh an ideal location for a facility like this.”
The Irish Times has more on the opening and possible funding to expand ONE's objectives.
Minister Coveney to Clarify future of 'Post-94' Cohort of Short-Staffed Defence Forces
Experienced Defence Forces personnel numbering 700, will know before the end of the year at the latest, if they will be forced to retire or be kept on.
The cohort, known as the Post-94 group, were given shorter contracts when they joined up and, under the terms of the contracts, will be forced out of the Defence Forces in December 2022, unless there is ministerial intervention in the meantime.
Defence Minister Simon Coveney has told the Irish Examiner he recognises the situation and said he hopes to “provide certainty by the end of the year" on what will happen to them.
Many of the 700 are experienced NCOs (corporals and sergeants), who form the backbone of the country's military.
The Defence Forces is already short of the minimum number of personnel it requires.
The latest figures supplied by the Defence Forces show that as of June 30, they were short 981 personnel of the number they require across the Naval Service, Army and the Air Corps.
Further reading available here.