Dáil debates
Thursday, 29 September 2005
Other Questions.
Defence Forces Strength.
2:00 pm
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 6: To ask the Minister for Defence the current strength of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25666/05]
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 155: To ask the Minister for Defence the strength of the Permanent Defence Force and the Army reserve by rank and gender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26116/05]
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 163: To ask the Minister for Defence if the current and anticipated strength of the Permanent Defence Force is adequate to meet current home and overseas commitments; the way in which this will develop in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26125/05]
Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context
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 | 15 | 136 | 186 | 396 | 305 | 11 | 846 |
| Naval Service | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 48 | 25 | 65 | 154 | 6 | 6 | 77 | 15 | 188 | 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 | 15 | 136 | 175 | 384 | 301 | 10 | 826 |
| Naval Service | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 48 | 19 | 54 | 137 | 6 | 6 | 77 | 15 | 188 | 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 |
Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
The Minister mentioned that recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force is ongoing. Will he confirm that the Reserve Defence Force has been disbanded? I received a call from somebody today who went in for training last night and was told the training centre was closed and that he should turn up in Limerick to say goodbye. There may be no truth in this but the Minister might be able to clarify the matter.
Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context
There is an ongoing programme of reform of the Reserve Defence Forces. The FCA is becoming the Army Reserve and Slua Muirí is becoming the Naval Reserve. Therefore the different units are being reorganised and amalgamated in various places. The official changeover takes place next Saturday, 1 October 2005. The ceremony will take place at Sarsfield Barracks in Limerick and I will extend an invitation to Deputy Timmins if he wishes to attend.
I am not aware of the case to which the Deputy refers but there should be no interruption to training or anything of that nature. There was no question of closing until next Saturday. That is not the position and should not have happened.
Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Is it carrying on as usual?
Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
That is fine. I thank the Minister for the invitation but unfortunately I am otherwise engaged. Had I received a timely invitation I would have been happy to attend, even if it is in Limerick.
Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context
We will miss the Deputy.