Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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1. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the short, medium and long-term Defence Forces strategic human resource measures being considered to address the manning crisis in order that the Defence Forces may fulfil the critical State outputs that are designed and mandated by the Government. [15650/17]

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I extend my sympathy to the families of the four crew members who went down in R116 off the coast of Mayo in my constituency. I commend most strongly the efforts and work of the Defence Forces in the search and rescue operation. I commend, in particular, the Naval Service. Those concerned have done the organisation extremely proud.

My question is to ask the Minister of State to outline the short, medium and long-term Defence Forces strategic human resource measures being considered to address the manning crisis in order that the Defence Forces may fulfil the critical State outputs that are designed and mandated by the Government.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The White Paper on Defence sets the defence policy agenda for the next ten years. It also considers the defence capabilities required so the Defence Forces can successfully deliver on the roles assigned by the Government. In this context, the White Paper on Defence also highlights a number of medium and long-term strategies in the area of manpower planning. The White Paper addresses the need to review and develop rolling medium-term planning requirements so as to deliver an effective and efficient workforce mix in terms of age profile, skills, competencies and experience, and current policies to support this will be further developed and implemented. To that end, a number of White Paper projects are currently under way and are being jointly developed by military and civil personnel.

The Government is committed to maintaining the establishment 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. On an ongoing basis, the manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services. As there is significant turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force, targeted recruitment has been, and is currently, taking place to maintain the agreed strength levels. As with other areas of the public service, challenges have arisen in regard to the recruitment and retention of personnel in particular areas of expertise.

I am advised by the military authorities that a total of 590 general service recruits were enlisted into the Permanent Defence Force in 2016, of whom 501 were enlisted in the Army and 89 were enlisted in the Naval Service. In addition, 100 cadetships were awarded following the 2016 cadetship competitions in the Naval Service, Army and Air Corps.

I am advised by the military authorities that their planned target is to induct approximately 850 to 900, or just 900, new entrants to the Defence Forces across all services and competition streams in 2017. I am further advised that, to date in 2017, a total of 106 general service recruits have been enlisted.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

A new general service recruitment campaign was launched on 23 February 2017 and the 2017 cadetship competition was launched last week. Direct-entry competitions are also held as required, from which specialist appointments are filled. An Air Corps apprentice class was also inducted in March 2017.

Promotions are ongoing within officer ranks in order to fill rank vacancies. A new NCO promotions competition to fill vacancies to the ranks of sergeant and above has been launched. From this, promotions will commence in quarter 3 of 2017.

The purpose of the Defence Forces climate survey, published in 2016, was to inform consideration of the ongoing human resource and strategic needs of the Defence Forces. The survey findings point to challenges for the Defence Forces, particularly in the areas of leadership, communication, organisational culture, the working environment and active management of personnel expectations. However, many positives also emanated from the survey, especially in relation to the commitment of personnel to the values and mission of the organisation, high levels of work satisfaction, pride in the organisation and positive views on culture and work support. The responses to the issues raised in the climate survey resulted in the formulation of an action plan, which is being led by the Chief of Staff.

My Government colleagues and I recognise the important role the Reserve Defence Force has played in contributing to Ireland’s defence capability and we recognise the voluntary service which has been the hallmark of the Reserve. The Government appreciates the service of the members of the Reserve and the White Paper on Defence is clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve. Recruitment to both the Permanent Defence Force and Reserve Defence Force remains a priority in 2017.

Despite the challenges facing the organisation, I believe we now have the structures in place to continue to deliver a more effective, energetic and sustainable organisation. With the support of the Chief of Staff, I am confident that we shall retain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks assigned by Government, both at home and overseas.

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The ongoing difficulty in the retention of skilled Defence Forces personnel has been well documented. Despite an establishment figure of 9,500, figures released to me by the Minister of State's Department last week show fewer than 9,100 in the Permanent Defence Force currently. We have a budget for 9,500. We never seem to get there and I do not envisage us getting there any time soon.

The Minister of State may have read last week a newspaper article by retired Brigadier General Ger Aherne, who commanded the Fourth Western Brigade of the Defence Forces. It is a very trenchant critique and raises many salient points. Let me quote one of them for the Minister of State:

You cannot induct qualified military skill sets off the street. The unique nature of military service requires non-standard terms of service, from fitness and medical benchmarks to remuneration and supporting conditions of service. Failure to factor in these unique demands, and the timelines required to develop these competencies, inevitably results in manning gaps. The Defence Forces will thus not have the requisite capacity to fulfil the designed range of capabilities required by the State.

That is a strong criticism. When does the Minister of State think we will reach the 9,500 personnel mark, which I consider to be too low a ceiling in any event?

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I have been assured by the Chief of Staff that the Defence Forces have all the capabilities to comply with and carry out all roles the Government's wishes of them. During the worst recession to hit this country, the Defence Forces and the Government decided there would be continuous recruitment. It was the only State body to have continuous recruitment from 2011 to 2013, inclusive, when money was extremely difficult to come by. I have set a target of taking in 900 recruits this year. I hope to get Defence Forces strength back up to 9,500 or close to it. That is why I have set a target of bringing in almost 900 recruits this year. It is easy to say to bring in 1,500 or 2,000 recruits. However, one has to look at the training capacity available and the ability to carry out day-to-day requirements and fulfil overseas commitments.

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Despite the recovery in public finances and a recruitment campaign, numbers are down again in any event. The Minister of State’s focus is far too much on the recruitment side. While it is essential, the retention of specialists and their hard-earned skills is paramount. There are 28 recruits in training with the Air Corps, with eight due to graduate in quarter 4 of 2017. The Minister considers this as an adequate response to the Air Corps staffing shortage. None of these eight trainees will be able to act as co-pilots of a helicopter or a fixed-wing CASA until the summer of 2019 at the earliest. The training cost for a pilot is €1.5 million. It takes six years to train a bomb disposal officer. Specialist Naval Service deck officers require years of intensive training. Specialist Army Ranger Wing officers are front-line responders to terrorist threats. They similarly require long years of training at home and abroad, with lengthy operational experience needed.

The Minister of State has let this matter reach crisis point and the recruitment campaigns for this year and the next two years will not bridge the gap. He needs to put together a serious plan for retention of personnel because the cost of the State of losing these people is far more than the cost of training. What is the Minister of State’s plan to retain personnel? What will he do now and what will he do next year to retain highly-qualified people we have in the Defence Forces? Taking a new people will not bridge the gap that exists.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I do not accept the Deputy's assertions. In light of the results of the climate survey that were published at the end of 2016, I have asked the military authorities to come up with plans for the specific area of retention. The Deputy referred to the Air Corps. We have eights cadets in training who were inducted in 2016. There were also classes in 2010 to 2015, inclusive. There is rolling recruitment going on.

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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There are 211 vacancies. We are not taking in enough.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I would be the first to accept that. However, this is also about training capacity. There is no use bringing in young cadets if we cannot give them the specific training they need. A significant amount of money is invested in these young people. I hope we will have a bigger cadet class in the Air Corps in 2017.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I thank the Minister of State.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I understand the frustrations of the people involved. It is a priority for me to get the Air Corps back to fully operational capacity. That is also my target in respect of cadet and air traffic control training.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Minister of State should conclude.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I want to get this clear, a Cheann Comhairle. There is a rolling of cadets every year. Once the class starts, another one is finishing at the end. They will be ready to be pilots and co-pilots.

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I know that. However, I am talking about retention. We are losing more personnel than we are taking in.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you. The Minister of State has made his point.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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There is this view that we do not have people finishing off.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The next question is from Deputy Ó Snodaigh.