Written answers
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Department of Defence
Departmental Staff
10:00 pm
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Defence the number by grade and rank of civil servants in his Department and in agencies under his control on 1 September 1995, 1 September 2000, 1 September 2005 and 1 September 2008 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42806/08]
Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I have set out in the table below the number by grade and rank of civil servants in my Department and in agencies under the aegis of my Department:
| Grade Title | Number of Staff | |||
| 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2008 | |
| Secretary General | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Assistant Secretary | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Head of Corporate Services | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Principal | 8 | 11 | 13.8 | 14.5 |
| Chief Technical Officer | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Professional Accountant | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Assistant Principal | 25 | 25 | 33.5 | 37.1 |
| Technical Officer Grade II | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Higher Executive Officer | 58 | 64.5 | 62.7 | 58.8 |
| Administrative Officer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Properties Officer | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Assistant Properties Officer | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Executive Officer | 58.5 | 76 | 73.35 | 82.28 |
| Examiner of Maps | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Senior Technical Assistant | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Staff Officer | 30.5 | 36.5 | 29.5 | 33.5 |
| Clerical Officer | 131.5 | 163 | 147.4 | 143.9 |
| Clerical Assistant | 66 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paperkeeper | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Storeman | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Storekeeper | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Visually Impaired Telephonists | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Head Services Officer | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Services Officer | 14 | 14 | 15 | 17 |
| Services Attendant | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1.7 |
| Nightwatchman | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Superintendent of Cleaners | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Cleaner | 16 | 14 | 6 | 4 |
| Total | 435.5 | 429 | 396.3 | 409.8 |
I am pleased to advise the House that the change and modernisation process in Defence in recent years has been accompanied by a reduction in numbers of civil servants. The Table above shows that the numbers in the Department of Defence and its agencies (Civil Defence Board, Army Pensions Board and the Board of Coiste an Asgard) have been reduced from 435.5 to 409.8 in the 13-year period from 1995. This same period has been one of tremendous change in the working environment of the public service, as society and the economy have developed rapidly. This change has been particularly dramatic in Defence — the defence and security environment nationally and internationally has changed dramatically over this period and continues to evolve rapidly.
Developments in the international security and defence environment have resulted in very significant resource demands on the Defence organisation. Participation in the evolution of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) for example, has absorbed additional staff resources in the Department. Again, this has been achieved against a background of falling overall staff numbers. The Department is also addressing the challenge of decentralising while maintaining the existing level of service. My Department has absorbed these changes and the demands arising from new initiatives and services while continuing to reduce Administrative Budget costs in real terms. I am confident that my Department will be equally resilient and successful in meeting the challenges ahead.
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