Results 21-40 of 162 for defence forces strength speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: The strength of the Permanent Defence Force, as at 29 February 2024 the latest date for which such figures are available, was 7,451 personnel comprised of 6,018 Army personnel, 702 Air Corps personnel, and 731 Naval Service personnel. The military authorities have advised they are in the process of confirming the number of personnel in each arm of the Reserve Defence Force and this...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The recruitment and retention challenges experienced by the Defence Forces are well documented. The numbers leaving the Defence Forces exceed the numbers recruited year on year, resulting in a continued decline in the overall strength level. While significant measures have been undertaken to improve the overall package in the Defence Forces, the decline in numbers has continued. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 40 and 44 together. In 2022, the Government approved the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF). One of these recommendations was to move, over a six-year period, to a level of Defence Forces’ capability that would require an additional 2,000 personnel, including a civilian component, beyond the 9,500 Permanent Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The strategic objective for the RDF is the development of a Reserve Force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy on a voluntary basis, with the Permanent Defence Force, both on-island and overseas. This is an underlying message in the Report from the Commission on the Defence Forces. The structure and strength of the RDF is a key focus of the Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) which...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Farrell for raising these matters, across three main areas of Operations, Procurement and Recruitment/Retention. Our Naval Service is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles, including a fishery protection service and a number of other tasks including drug interdiction, search and rescue, and maritime defence and security operations. The Naval Service is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Reserve Defence Force comprises the Army Reserve (AR), Naval Service Reserve (NSR) and the First Line Reserve (FLR). The RDF is comprised of the First Line Reserve (FLR), the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve The FLR consists of former trained members of the PDF who are available at short notice to supplement the PDF in times of crisis. The current strength of the Reserve...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141, 146 and 149 together. The strength of the PDF, as at 31 January 2024 the latest date for which such figures are available, stood at 7,504 personnel, 6,281 of which were enlisted. I have acknowledged the current staffing difficulties previously and I have instructed the military authorities that additional enlisted personnel and Cadets be recruited in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 144 together. The number of personnel inducted and departing varies from year to year. 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. As at 31 January 2024, the latest date for which such figures are available, there were 1,112 positions....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The 2024 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) provides an allocation of €1.25 billion in Defence Group funding, an increase of €40 million over 2023. The Defence Vote Group includes the Defence and Army Pensions Votes. The allocations for 2024 are €933 million for the Defence Vote and €317 million for the Army Pensions Vote. This significant level of funding will further...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: As of 29 March 2024, all Permanent Defence Forces personnel who currently have a mandatory retirement age of less than 60, may remain in service until 60 subject to fulfilling certain existing criteria, for example physical and medical fitness. This strategic move will have a two-fold effect. For the organisation, it will help to address, in part, the issue of retention by allowing...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have provided the requested details, in the table below, in relation to the vacancies in the Defence Forces School of Music. Figures are as at 11 March 2024: Rank Lt Col Comdt Captain Lt CS CQ Sgt Cpl Pte Strength 1 1 3 0 4 1 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The structure and strength of the RDF is a key focus of the Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) which was established recently in line with a recommendation from the Commission on the Defence Forces Report (CODF). The Director of ORA, how holds the rank of Colonel, advises that their immediate focus is on the development of a Regeneration Plan. A recruitment drive for the RDF was launched...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government is committed to restoring the strength of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) and last year saw positive growth in terms of the number of personnel completing a growing number of training days with the result that there has been an increase in the budget for the RDF this year. The existing regulatory framework provides for former members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together. The First Line Reserve (FLR) is intended to provide a pool of trained personnel who are available at short notice to supplement Permanent Defence Force (PDF) units in times of emergency. There is currently no set establishment for the FLR. The existing regulatory framework provides for former members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF)...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: In April 2020, a scheme was launched to re-enlist former Permanent Defence Force (PDF) enlisted personnel. The focus of the scheme is on those former PDF personnel with particular skillsets identified by the Chief of Staff which are not available within the Defence Forces. The re-enlistment of former personnel with the relevant skills and experience is one of the many actions being...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The current strength of the Reserve Defence Force as of end of December 2023 is as follows: Service Total Effective Personnel Army Reserve 1,323 Naval Service Reserve 84 First Line Reserve 282 In terms of recruitment and retention measures for the RDF, a long-term regeneration plan is being...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Military Authorities advise that the end of year effective strength of the RDF, from 2020 to 2023, is the follows: RDF Effective Strength Establishment 2020 2021 2022 2023 Army Reserve (AR) 3869 1463 1373 1415 1323 Naval Service Reserve (NSR) 200 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: As at 31 December 2023, the latest date for which such figures are available the strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 7,550 personnel i.e. 6,136 Army, 689 Air Corps, and 725 Naval Service. The current agreed establishment of the Defence Forces is 9,589 i.e. 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps, 1094 Naval Service, and 89 additional positions to facilitate the implementation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: As at 31 December 2023, the latest date for which such figures are available, the number of female personnel in the Permanent Defence Force was 559. The table below sets out the number of women in each branch, and the number of discharges from the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as at 31 December 2023. Army ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The establishment for the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) was recently increased by 89 to 9,589 to account for the first cohort of Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF) transformation appointments. Personnel in training are counted as part of the 9,589 establishment level. As at 31 December 2023, the strength of the PDF was 7,550 personnel. The requested breakdown of the establishment,...