Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I announced details of the reorganisation of the PDF on 17 July last, which resulted from the Government decision to maintain the strength of the PDF at 9,500. As the reorganisation entailed a reduction in numbers across all levels of the organisation, it will have some impact on the career prospects of some members of the PDF. The approach being taken in the reorganisation is designed to maximise the operational outputs of the PDF.

The table provided outlines the total number of vacancies by rank, based on the PDF rank establishment of 9,500 as at 31 October 2012, the latest date for which figures are available. Competitions for promotions for enlisted personnel have been completed and promotions of successful candidates are ongoing. Officer promotion competitions commenced last month, from which there will be promotions in due course. All promotions will be carried out within the resource envelope allocated to the Department of Defence.

In respect of the Reserve Defence Force, the central recommendation from the value for money steering committee was for the retention of the reserve with 4,000 personnel spread countrywide, with these personnel to be based in barracks and in 16 other locations. This will involve the consolidation of existing reserve units throughout the country into a smaller number of full-strength units.

The Deputy will appreciate that until there is significant further progress on the implementation of recommendations made in the value for money report, it will not be possible to determine where recruitment vacancies and promotion opportunities may arise. As such, it is not proposed to undertake recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force or promote existing personnel at this time.

PDF strength by rank as at 31 October 2012 versus PDF rank establishment of 9,500

	9,500 Rank Establishment	Strength at 31 October 2012	Vacancies by Rank
Lieutenant General	1	1	0
Major General	2	2	0
Brigadier General	8	8	0
Colonel	41	34	7
Lieutenant Colonel	137	131	6
Commandant	336	337	-1
Captain	452	436	16
Lieutenant	256	319	-63
Sergeant Major	43	35	9
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant	44	42	1
Company Sergeant	245	166	79
Company Quartermaster Sergeant	199	171	28
Sergeant	1,330	1,057	273
Corporal	1,800	1,757	43
Private (including Cadet)	4,606	4,656	-50
Total	9,500	9,153	347

Note:

Equivalent Naval Service Ranks

Brigadier general/commodore

Colonel/captain

Lieutenant colonel/commander

Commandant/lieutenant commander

Captain/lieutenant (NS)

Lieutenant/sub-lieutenant
sergeant mayor/warrant officer

Battalion quartermaster sergeant/senior chief petty officer

Company quartermaster sergeant/senior petty officer

Company sergeant/chief petty officer

Sergeant/petty officer

Corporal/leading seaman

Private/able seaman

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