Dáil debates

Thursday, 29 September 2005

 

Defence Forces Strength.

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2:00 pm

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 155 and 163 together.

The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force, comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army.

The strength of the Defence Forces, and the number of female personnel by rank, as advised by the military authorities, is provided in the following table. The figures are correct as at 31 August 2005.

The White Paper provides an overall strength figure of 10,500 for the Permanent Defence Force, all ranks. This figure comprehends provision for the allocation of up to 850 members of the Permanent Defence Force to overseas peacekeeping missions at any given time. The military authorities advise there are some 750 members of the Permanent Defence Force serving overseas on such missions. I am satisfied the current strength is adequate to meet all needs arising at home and overseas.

I intend to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces. Recruitment into the Permanent Defence Force will continue to maintain the strength at the level set out in the White Paper as required to meet military needs. Recruitment is ongoing to the Reserve Defence Force. The Defence Forces continue to take a proactive approach to recruiting.

Strength of the Permanent Defence Force
31 August 2005
Lt Gen Maj Gen Brig Gen Col Lt Col Comdt Capt Lt Total Offrs SM BQMS CS CQMS Sgts Cpls Total NCOS Ptes Cadets Total
Army 1 2 6 39 124 352 280 264 1,068 32 41 129 246 1,051 1,606 3,105 4,448 54 8,675
Air Corps 0 0 1 2 14 31 47 39 134 8 4 47 15136 186 396 305 11 846
Naval Service 0 0 1 2 13 48 25 65 154 6 6 77 15188 182 474 419 18 1,065
KEY
Lt Gen Lieutenant General SM Sergeant Major
Maj Gen Major General BQMS Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant
Brig Gen Brigadier General CS Company Sergeant
Col Colonel CQMS Company Quartermaster Sergeant
Lt Col Lieutenant Colonel Sgts Sergeants
Comdt Commandant Cpls Corporals
Capt Captain NCOS Non Commissioned Officers
Lt Lieutenant Ptes Privates
Strength of Males in the Pemanent Defence Force
31 August 2005
Lt Gen Maj Gen Brig Gen Col Lt Col Comdt Capt Lt Total Offrs SM BQMS CS CQMS Sgts Cpls Total NCOS Ptes Cadets Total
Army 1 2 6 39 123 337 242 229 979 32 41 126 245 1,041 1,501 2,986 4,218 43 8,226
Air Corps 0 0 1 2 14 31 45 38 131 8 4 46 15136 175 384 301 10 826
Naval Service 0 0 1 2 13 48 19 54 137 6 6 77 15188 179 471 385 17 1,010
Strength of Females in the Permanent Defence Force
31 August 2005
Lt Gen Maj Gen Brig Gen Col Lt Col Comdt Capt Lt Total Offrs SM BQMS CS CQMS Sgts Cpls Total NCOS Ptes Cadets Total
Army 0 0 0 0 1 15 38 35 89 0 0 3 1 10 105 119 230 11 449
Air Corps 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 11 12 4 1 20
Naval Service 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 11 17 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 34 1 55
Strength of the Reserve Defence Force
31 August, 2005
Comdt Capt Lt Total Offrs SM BQMS CS CQMS Sgts Cpls Total NCOS Ptes Total
Army Reserve 115 189 358 662 23 22 117 110 886 1,507 2,665 7,098 10,425
Naval Reserve 4 10 12 26 0 4 13 1 25 32 75 307 408
Strength of Males in the Reserve Defence Force
31 August 2005
Comdt Capt Lt Total Offrs SM BQMS CS CQMS Sgts Cpls Total NCOS Ptes Total
Army Reserve 115 189 306 610 23 22 116 108 819 1,113 2,201 4,829 7,640
Naval Reserve 4 10 10 24 0 4 13 1 24 25 67 209 300
Strength of Females in the Reserve Defence Force
31 August 2005
Comdt Capt Lt Total Offrs SM BQMS CS CQMS SGTS Cpls Total NCOS Ptes Total
Army Reserve 0 0 52 52 0 0 1 2 67 394 464 2,269 2,785
Naval Reserve 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 7 8 98 108
Strength of the First Line Reserve
31 August, 2005.
Comdt Capt Lt Total Offrs Sgts Cpls Total NCOS Ptes Total
Male 68 84 11 163 11 15 26 175 364
Female 0 2 0 2 0 1 1 18 21

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