Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Defence further to the recent decision to approve 50 promotions at senior level within the Defence Forces the number of such appointments that have been filled to date; when the outstanding posts will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15622/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Resulting from the Government Decision regarding the reduction of public service numbers and the reduced budgetary provision available for 2009, recruitment, promotions and acting up appointments in the Permanent Defence Forces were suspended.

However, in order to maintain the ongoing operational capability of the Defence Forces, a limited number of exceptions to the application of the measures to the Permanent Defence Force were sought in a submission to the Minister for Finance, in June 2009. The need for limited recruitment, promotions and acting appointments for the Defence Forces was outlined.

As was announced on the 24 November 2009, the Minister for Finance approved an allocation of 50 promotions, for the Permanent Defence Force. These promotions were approved to address priority operational and command requirements of the Permanent Defence Force.

In order that these promotions were allocated in a manner that gives protection to the operational capacity of the Defence Forces, Military Management reviewed 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 and the identification of priority posts, a total of 10 Officer promotions and 26 Enlisted promotions have been completed to date.

A further 5 Enlisted promotions will be completed as soon as the administrative procedures relating to them have been completed.

Competitions are currently underway to fill 3 Senior Technical Officer positions. The residual 6 approved promotions will be used to fill priority posts arising in the next few months.