Written answers
Wednesday, 6 November 2013
Department of Defence
Defence Forces Promotions
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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132. To ask the Minister for Defence the number of promotions outstanding in the Defence Forces in the Army, Navy and Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47395/13]
Alan 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 30 September 2013, the latest date for which figures are available was 9,188, comprising 7,379 Army, 784 Air Corps and 1,025 Naval Service personnel. The table outlines the establishment, strength and vacancies of the Permanent Defence Force, by Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as at 30 September 2013, based on the agreed stabilised strength for the Permanent Defence Force of 9,500. The annual competitions to fill vacancies in the officer ranks are currently ongoing and this process will be completed before the end of the year. In relation to vacancies in NCO ranks, a competition was held last year under the new and modernised promotion system and vacancies in these ranks are being filled from the panels established on foot of that competition. Nearly 500 promotions have already been made to the ranks of Sergeant and above since September last year, while 300 personnel have been promoted to date from Private to Corporal during the course of 2012/2013.
It is my intention that promotions will continue to be made in order to fill rank vacancies within the resource envelope allocated to Defence. PQ No: 47395/13
PDF Strength by Rank as at 30 September 2013 versus PDF Rank Establishment of 9,500
- | Lt Gen | Maj Gen | Brig Gen | Col | Lt Col | Comdt | Capt | Lt | SM | BQMS | CS | CQMS | Sgt | Cpl | Pte/Cadet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Army Rank Establishment | 1 | 2* | 6 | 37 | 110 | 255 | 306 | 167 | 29 | 33 | 114 | 170 | 973 | 1,437 | 3,880 |
| Army Strength | 1 | 0* | 4 | 35 | 101 | 250 | 285 | 259 | 29 | 33 | 110 | 162 | 898 | 1,291 | 3,920** |
| Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 2* | 2 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 21 | -92 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 75 | 146 | -40 |
| Air Corps Rank Establishment | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 36 | 65 | 48 | 8 | 4 | 56 | 14 | 131 | 183 | 324 |
| Air Corps Strength | 0 | 1* | 1 | 2 | 14 | 30 | 60 | 32 | 8 | 4 | 48 | 14 | 126 | 160 | 285** |
| Vacancies by Rank | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 23 | 39 |
| Naval Service Rank Establishment | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 45 | 81 | 41 | 6 | 7 | 75 | 15 | 226 | 180 | 402 |
| Naval Service Strength | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 43 | 56 | 47 | 6 | 7 | 71 | 15 | 168 | 148 | 448** |
| Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 25 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 58 | 32 | -46 |
| Total Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2*** | 9 | 13 | 51 | -82 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 8 | 138 | 201 | -47 |
** Includes 42 Army Cadets, 17 Air Corps Cadets and 15 Naval Service Cadets.
***Within the Establishment figures there is provision for 10 Colonel Appointments overseas. However 9 of these are currently filled with no requirement to fill the remaining appointment at present.
There are an additional 80 personnel on career breaks/secondment, 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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