Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 23 together.

The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising 7,520 Army personnel, 886 Air Corps personnel and 1,094 Naval Service personnel, as stated in the 2015 White Paper on Defence. I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 31 May 2016, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,137 personnel, comprising 7,310 Army personnel, 733 Air Corps personnel and 1,094 Naval Service personnel. The manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services. Personnel are posted on the basis of operational needs across the organisation both at home and abroad and not on a regional basis. As there is significant turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force targeted recruitment has been and is currently taking place so as to maintain the agreed strength levels. The current general service recruitment campaign, which was launched on 13 April 2016, envisages an intake of 600 general service recruits in 2016 and a further 850 in 2017. This recruitment will be phased over the 2016 and 2017 period in a manner designed to restore the established strength and plans are being put in place to this end.

The military authorities have advised of the following intake in 2016 to date. There have been 241general service recruits inducted in 2016, with a further 150 having completed their recruit training in 2016 following induction in the fourth quarter of 2015. An Air Corps aircraft apprentice technician competition is planned later in 2016. The intake of cadets into the Permanent Defence Force is normally carried out on an annual basis, taking into consideration the operational requirements of the Defence Forces and the resource envelope allocated to defence. There are 75 cadets scheduled to be inducted in the third quarter following the current cadet competitions. The breakdown is 50 Army personnel, 15 Naval Service personnel and ten Air Corps personnel. Direct entry competitions are also held as required from which specialist appointments are filled.

Given that personnel can retire from the Permanent Defence Force for a variety of reasons, the Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible to accurately forecast retirements at this stage for 2016. However, I am advised by the military authorities that in 2015, 76 officers and 491 enlisted ranks retired or were discharged. Up to 31 May 2016, 34 officers and 193 enlisted ranks have retired or were discharged. In line with human resources policy, there is significant turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force due to the requirement to maintain a lower age profile. With the support of the chief of staff and within the resources available, it is intended to retain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks laid down by Government both at home and overseas.

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