Written answers
Wednesday, 18 June 2014
Department of Defence
Defence Forces Personnel
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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125. To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which promotional opportunities remain available throughout the Army, Navy and Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26333/14]
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 30 April 2014, the latest date for which figures are available was 9,110, comprising 7,338 Army, 764 Air Corps and 1,008 Naval Service personnel. The attached table outlines the establishment, strength and vacancies of the Permanent Defence Force, by Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as at 30 April 2014, based on the agreed stabilised strength for the Permanent Defence Force of 9,500.
Promotions are ongoing within the Officer and the Non-Commissioned Officer ranks. Competitions to fill current and future vacancies in the ranks of Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel have recently been held with further officer competitions scheduled to take place in the coming months. As the majority of the panels established from the NCO promotion competitions have now closed, new NCO promotion competitions will be held in the near future. It is my intention that promotions will be carried out within the resource envelope allocated to Defence.
PDF Strength by Rank as at 30 April 2014 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 | 6 | 36** | 106 | 248 | 254 | 278 | 29 | 33 | 110 | 168 | 891 | 1,332 | 3,844*** |
| Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 2* | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 52 | -111 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 82 | 105 | 36 |
| 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 | 32 | 49 | 35 | 8 | 4 | 49 | 14 | 125 | 158 | 273*** |
| Vacancies by Rank | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 25 | 51 |
| Naval Service Rank Establishment | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 45 | 81 | 41 | 6 | 7 | 75 | 15 | 226 | 180 | 402 |
| Naval Service Strength | 0 | 1* | 1 | 2 | 12 | 45 | 52 | 45 | 6 | 7 | 67 | 15 | 174 | 166 | 416*** |
| Vacancies by Rank | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 52 | 14 | -14 |
| Total Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 0* | 0 | 0** | 5 | 11 | 97 ( less 51 promotions on 3/6/14) | -102 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 140 | 144 | 73 |
** Within the Establishment figures there is provision for one appointment and one temporary appointment in the rank of Colonel in the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO). As the current holder of the General Secretary appointment is in the rank of Comdt there is no vacancy in the rank of Colonel in the Army
*** Includes 20 Army Cadets, 14 Air Corps Cadets and 15 Naval Service Cadets
There are an additional 81 personnel on career breaks/secondment, who are not included in the strengths in the above table.
Note:
Equivalent Naval Service RanksBrigadier 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
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