Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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149. To ask the Minister for Defence the total strength of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by gender and rank at present; the extent to which the numbers have fluctuated in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5974/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The strength of the Permanent Defence Force at the end of December 2013, the latest date for which figures are available stood at 9,236, of which 546 (5.91%) are women. Comparative figures at the end of 2009 show a strength of 9,933 of which 567 (5.7%) were female. The table - to which a link is provided - contains the strength, broken down into Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by gender and rank groupings for each of the years 2009 to 2013. I wish to advise the Deputy that the strength figures for the period 2009 - 2012 include personnel who were on secondment to, and being paid by other organisations, or on career breaks. The 31 December 2013 strength figures have been calculated on the basis of actual numbers serving on that date, excluding those members who are on secondment to, and being paid by other organisations, or on career breaks. All future strength figures will be calculated on this basis.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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151. To ask the Minister for Defence the number of positions in the Defence Forces or ranks approved waiting to be filled or vacant at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5976/14]

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 31 December 2013, the latest date for which figures are available, was 9,236, comprising 7,434 Army, 779 Air Corps and 1,023 Naval Service personnel. The following table outlines the total vacancies, by rank, based on the agreed stabilised strength for the Permanent Defence Force of 9,500.

Merit based competitions to establish panels to fill outstanding Non Commissioned Officer vacancies were held in 2012. Promotions from these panels within the Permanent Defence Force in order to fill rank vacancies are almost concluded. Promotion competitions for Generals and Officers were held in the last quarter of 2013 with Generals having already been promoted, while a small number of Officer promotions are outstanding. It is planned to hold both Officer and Non Commissioned Officer competitions in 2014 and to run a new General Service recruitment competition commencing in March 2014. All promotions along with targeted recruitment will be carried out within the resource envelope allocated to Defence.

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

*Within the establishment figures there is provision for 10 Colonel positions overseas, however, at end of December only 9 of these were filled with no requirement to fill the remaining position. There are an additional 82 personnel on Career Breaks or seconded who are not included in the strengths in the table.

Note: Equivalent Naval Service Ranks

Brigadier General/Commodore

Colonel/Captain

Lieutenant Colonel/Commander

Commandant/Lieutenant Commander

Captain/Lieutenant (NS)

Lieutenant/Sub-Lieutenant Sergeant 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.