David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will list by rank and corps the number of personnel in the Permanent Defence Forces who have successfully completed courses that make them eligible for promotion and who are currently awaiting promotion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39474/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The number of Permanent Defence Force personnel who have successfully completed career courses which make them qualified for promotion to higher rank is outlined in the following tabular statement.

Number of PDF personnel who have successfully completed career courses which make them qualified for promotion to higher rank

It should be stated that while personnel may have successfully completed a career course this in itself does not make them eligible for immediate promotion. For instance, promotion to the rank of Corporal is dependent on existing vacancies and is the prerogative of Formation Commanders. In the case of promotion to all other ranks, promotion is dependent on existing vacancies being filled by promotion competition. Qualified candidates must therefore make themselves available for interview in order to be eligible for consideration for promotion.

Notwithstanding the current Moratorium on Recruitment and Promotions in the Public Service, the Minister for Finance approved an allocation of 50 promotions for the Permanent Defence Force last November. These promotions were approved to address priority operational and command requirements of the Permanent Defence Force. The tabular statement below sets out details of the personnel who, having completed the relevant career courses qualifying them for promotion to higher rank, participated in promotion competitions prior to the Moratorium on Recruitment and Promotion, and who currently remain on panels awaiting promotion.