Written answers

Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Department of Defence

Defence Forces Personnel

Photo of Seán KennySeán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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545. To ask the Minister for Defence the number of vacancies at each rank currently in the Defence Forces; if further recruitment is likely in the Defence Forces in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25538/13]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 31 March 2013, the latest date for which figures are available, was 9,189, comprising 7,375 Army, 781 Air Corps and 1,033 Naval Service personnel. The attached table outlines the total vacancies, by rank, based on the agreed stabilised strength for the Permanent Defence Force of 9,500. In this context it is my intention that promotions will continue in order to fill rank vacancies. Targeted recruitment will continue to ensure that the Permanent Defence Force can continue to deliver all operational outputs required by Government both at home and overseas. To this end, it is intended that further general service recruitment will take place from the existing competition panel during 2013. A recruitment competition for the intake of cadets was recently advertised, the closing date for which was 26 May 2013. All promotions along with targeted recruitment will be carried out within the resource envelope allocated to defence.

PDF Strength by rank as at 31 March 2013 versus PDF Rank Establishment of 9,500

-9,500 Rank EstablishmentStrength at 31 March 2013Vacancies by Rank
Lieutenant General
1
1
0
Major General
2
2
0
Brigadier General
8
8
0
Colonel
41
39
*2
Lieutenant Colonel
137
135
 2
Commandant
336
326
10
Captain
452
422
30
Lieutenant
256
339
-83
Sergeant Major
43
43
0
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant
44
44
0
Company Sergeant
245
222
23
Company Quartermaster Sergeant
199
196
3
Sergeant
1,330
1,142
188
Corporal
1,800
1,622
178
Private (including Cadet)
4,606
4,712
       -106
Total
9,500
9,253
247

*Within the establishment figures there is provision for ten Colonel positions overseas, however, at end of March only eight of these were filled with no requirement to fill remaining two. There are an additional 64 personnel on career breaks who are not included in the strengths in the above table.

Note: Equivalent Naval Service Ranks

Brigadier General/Commodore

Colonel/Captain

Lieutenant Colonel/Commander

Commandant/Lieutenant Commander

Captain/Lieutenant (NS)

Lieutenant/Sub LieutenantSergeant Mayor/Warrant Officer

Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant/Senior Chief Petty Officer

Company Quartermaster Sergeant/Senior Petty Officer

Company Sergeant/Chief Petty Officer

Sergeant/Petty Officer

Corporal/Leading Seaman

Private/Able Seaman

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