Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Force members who have retired or resigned over the past 18 months; the number of commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers and general service personnel who have left in each of those months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1912/10]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the military authorities that a total of 804 personnel have left the Permanent Defence Force in the eighteen month period 1 July 2008 to 31 December 2009. This figure is comprised of 99 Officers, 312 Non-Commissioned Officers and 393 Other Ranks personnel. A breakdown according to rank and per month is provided in the tabular statement.

I am keenly aware of the impact that measures such as the moratorium on recruitment, promotion and acting appointments are having on the Permanent Defence Forces in light of the very high turnover rate that is part of any military organization.

The turnover rate has increased significantly in recent months. I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 31st December 2009, the last date for which figures are available, is 9,933 broken down as follows:

Army 8,095

Navy 1,037

Air Corps 801

My focus is on retaining the capacity of the organization to operate effectively across all roles. This will represent a significant challenge in the coming months. I am in contact with my colleague the Minister for Finance with regard to targeted exemptions from the moratorium which are aimed at maintaining the operational capability and command arrangements of the Permanent Defence Force.

To date I have obtained sanction to fill a number of key posts, including Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations), two Brigadier –General posts, and the Director of Military Prosecutions post. I have also received sanction for 100 acting up posts to service operational requirements both at home and overseas. In addition I secured approval for the recruitment of 42 cadets. Furthermore the promotion of 10 Non commissioned Officers whose promotions had been in progress prior to the Moratorium has now been finalized.

In addition to the aforementioned an allocation of 50 promotions has been approved for the Permanent Defence Force by the Minister for Finance. These promotions were approved to address priority operational and command requirements of the Permanent Defence Force.

These promotions therefore must be allocated in a manner that gives protection to the operational capacity of the Defence Forces. The allocation must be balanced across both officer and enlisted ranks having regard to the operational requirements of the Defence Forces. Military management has been reviewing existing vacancies in all ranks across the organisation as a whole, so as to prioritise those to be filled from the approved promotions.

Following on from the Military review a number of priority posts have now been identified and I am pleased to confirm that 9 Officer promotions and 27 enlisted promotions have now been progressed. Some have been completed and the remainder will be completed in the coming days. A number of senior technical officer vacancies also have to be filled and competitions are being organised to fill these posts. The residual approved promotions will be used to fill priority posts arising in the next few months. In addition approximately 30 vacancies will be filled through acting up appointments in the coming weeks.

Within the available resources, I am committed to maintaining the strength of the Defence Forces at a level of 10,000 all ranks, for which I have secured Government approval in the context of Budget 2010. This reflects the reductions in personnel recommended in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes.

My officials are continuing to engage with the Military Authorities in relation to the review of structures and posts required to meet the operational requirements of the Defence Forces in light of the Government decision to maintain a complement of 10,000 personnel.

I am advised that at this time the Defence Forces retain the capacity to undertake the tasks laid down by Government both at home and overseas.

PERSONNEL DISCHARGED FROM THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE 01 JULY 2008 – 31 DECEMBER 200

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