BUSINESS CASE TEMPLATE

Transcription

1 BUSINESS CASE TEMPLATE PART 1: GENERAL INFORMATION 1. Name of Allowance: Daily Diving Allowance 2. Description: Daily diving allowance is paid to qualified Naval Service divers (all ranks) engaged in diving duties Naval Service Diving Section (NSDS) personnel and ships diving team engaged in diving duties. This allowance is in respect to operations such as body recovery, disposal of mines and ordnance such as torpedoes and buoys off ships. Dept of Finance sanction S4/59/41 refers 3. Number on Spreadsheet: 10 PART 2 BUSINESS CASE PROPOSAL Please tick relevant box: Maintain Modify X In both instances, please provide a through and considered business case for maintaining the allowance either as is or in modified format. The modifications should also be detailed, and include information on any revisions of the headings outlined in the Allowances Template. The Department should confirm that the allowances represent value for money and provide additional or higher value work which can not be considered as part of the normal responsibilities, flexibilities or duties expected of a person in such a post. This information should be returned to Sighle.de.barra@per.gov.ie by 31 January, SECTION (a) BUSINESS CASE FOR RETAINING ALLOWANCE (Please complete headings below) (1) What does the employer receive in return for the allowance? The provision of a Naval Diving Service (NSDS) staffed by highly qualified naval divers. The NSDS has been in existence since the late 1960s. From humble beginnings as an internal diving team for the ships in the fleet, it has evolved into the primary State diving

2 team, carrying out many varied tasks for a number of State Agencies. As well as providing an air diving capability down to fifty metres, the NSDS have underwater search equipment at their disposal, including a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV), Side Scan Sonar and Magnetometer. These allow the NSDS to search and survey to a much greater depth than divers can operate. Indeed the ROV is rated to over 1,000 metres depth. In deep water where diving is severely restricted or unattainable the search equipment allows the Naval Service to perform search and recover operations. It is a risky and arduous duty and requires a high level of skill and experience. The following are the main roles of the NSDS: Search and Recovery Underwater Survey Explosive Ordnance Disposal Underwater Engineering Military Diving Training Search and Rescue This is the primary external role of the NSDS. As well as diving in support of Naval Operations, the NSDS is frequently asked to dive in Aid to the Civil Power and Authority. Divers are involved in an average of 15 searches for missing persons during each year. These tragic situations can last up to 2 weeks at a time and although there are never any guarantees, the Section has a high success rate when dealing with these operations. In the ongoing battle against drug importation, the NSDS have carried out underwater searches on many vessels arriving in Irish Ports. Search and Recovery operations include the following: In search of missing persons, objects on seabed, recovery of evidence for An Garda Siochana.

3 Underwater searches of suspect vessels for the Customs Service. Search and recovery of vehicles in water for Fire Services. In search of missing vessels, persons, investigation of sunken vessels for the Department of Marine. Underwater Survey The NSDS have the ability to search and survey objects in the water and on the seabed. A variety of underwater cameras and recording equipment are at the disposal of the Section to achieve this. The ROV, Side Scan and Magnetometer can be used together with divers to give a detailed picture of what is on the seabed. Underwater maintenance of Naval Fleet Survey of historic wrecks or areas of interest on behalf of State. Department of Marine Explosive Ordnance Disposal The NSDS are trained in disposal of ordnance at sea. The NSDS assists the Army Ordnance Section in achieving this. WWII mines, depth charges, pyrotechnics and underwater weapons are still recovered from the sea on an annual basis. They can be recovered in fishing gear, or smaller items can be washed ashore. The appearance of these items can be very different to what the public are used to seeing on WWII films, but are extremely dangerous if handled incorrectly. They need to be disposed of, as they still present a danger to the public. Naval divers are trained in identification and disposal of these objects. Underwater Engineering The NSDS has equipment to facilitate underwater engineering tasks, such as cutting, burning, welding, bolting and cleaning. Divers are trained to international standards in the safety and application of this equipment. The NSDS has many enclosed air lifting bags, when combined, offer the ability to move or lift over 12 Tonnes of weight on the seabed. This allows the NSDS to recover heavy

4 items from depth. The ROV can assist with divers in the water in order to achieve the task. Military Diving Training The NSDS are the sole training establishment for military diving in the Defence Forces. The NSDS possesses a Recompression Chamber (RCC) to assist in this task. As well as training Naval Service divers, the NSDS also provides training for the Army Ranger Wing, in air and combat diving techniques. In order to achieve the capabilities outlined above, the training for Naval divers is intensive. While many apply and commence training very few complete training and qualify as military divers. The diving course lasts 8 weeks and takes volunteers from the Naval Service with little or no diving experience and trains them to dive using Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) and Surface Supplied Diving Equipment (SSDE). Divers are trained in seabed search techniques including zero visibility and strong tidal conditions. Typically thirty personnel will apply to commence the course with, on average, 4 divers successfully completing the training. On completion of the training, the divers then begin to gain valuable experience as they respond to the many tasks that are undertaken by the NSDS. In order to remain qualified as a diver or supervisor, divers meet the following annual criteria: General Defence Forces Fitness Test Diving Medical Examination Divers Physical Fitness Test Evaluation of Competency and Currency in Equipment Required time diving or supervising to be achieved on specific tasks (2) Is the allowance cost effective/represent value for money?

5 There are exceptional conditions attached to working in the NSDS. There are high standards for entry and divers work in a dangerous and hazardous working environment, risking their lives every time they undertake a dive. Due to the specialist nature of these duties it would be very costly and in some instances not possible to source the service from an outside agency, e.g. very few people are trained to dive at deep sea levels of fifty metres. The individuals in receipt of this allowance perform above their normal duties and the allowance is considered adequate to compensate them for the additional skills and work required. It represents value for money and is cost effective, because, unlike other areas of the Public Service and due to the nature of the duties performed, overtime, shift allowance or other such premium payments are not available to members of the Defence Forces. If this function were to be outsourced to the private sector it would cost significantly more to implement. (3) Other Pertinent Issues (e.g. why duties cannot form part of grade/post; impacts/risks if duties/responsibilities not undertaken) Naval Service personnel employed on diving duties did not, when joining, undertake anything other than normal naval duties. Diving is a major extra on their part and should, consequently, be rewarded by payment of a reasonable daily allowance as is the practice in other Navies. SECTION (b) BUSINESS CASE FOR RETAINING ALLOWANCE ON MODIFIED BASIS (1) What does the employer receive in return for the allowance? (2) Is the allowance cost effective/represent value for money?

6 (3) What type of modification is proposed e.g. change in rate; change in method of payment; change basis on which allowance is paid; reduce number of persons in receipt of allowance; other? (4) What would be the estimated total savings derived from the modification? (5) Other Pertinent Issues (e.g. why duties cannot form part of grade/post; impacts/risks if duties/responsibilities not undertaken))