Written answers
Tuesday, 30 September 2014
Department of Defence
Defence Forces Strength
Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
261. To ask the Minister for Defence the current vacancies by rank in the Army, Naval Service and the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36881/14]
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 31 August 2014, the latest date for which figures are available was 9,149, comprising 7,367 Army, 752 Air Corps and 1,030 Naval Service personnel.
The following table outlines the establishment, strength and vacancies of the Permanent Defence Force, by Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as at 31 August 2014, based on the agreed stabilised strength for the Permanent Defence Force of 9,500.
Promotions are ongoing within the Officer and Non-Commissioned ranks in order to fill rank vacancies. Competitions to fill current and future vacancies in the ranks of Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel and Commandant ranks have already been held this year, while a competition for promotion to Brigadier General is scheduled for early October. As panels which were established following the 2012 Non-Commissioned Officer promotion competitions have now closed, new NCO promotion competitions to the ranks of Sergeants and above have been advertised and interviews are currently underway.
In addition, targeted recruitment is currently taking place so as to maintain the level of 9,500 personnel. It is my intention that promotions along with targeted recruitment will be carried out within the resource envelope allocated to Defence.
PDF Strength by Rank as at 31 August 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 | 5 | 33** | 104 | 240 | 299 | 226 | 27 | 33 | 108 | 164 | 884 | 1,342 | 3,899*** |
Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 2* | 1 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 7 | -59 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 89 | 95 | -19 |
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 | 13 | 32 | 50 | 30 | 8 | 4 | 47 | 14 | 125 | 157 | 269*** |
Vacancies by Rank | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 26 | 55 |
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 | 1 | 13 | 45 | 50 | 41 | 6 | 7 | 66 | 15 | 171 | 175 | 439*** |
Vacancies by Rank | 0 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 55 | 5 | -37 |
Total Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 0* | 1 | 5** | 7 | 19 | 53 | -41 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 6 | 150 | 126 | -1 |
* For administrative record purposes, the two Major General Appointments in the Permanent Defence Force are held against the establishment for the Army. One of these posts is currently filled by an Air Corps Officer and the other by a Naval Service Officer.
** 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) and 10 Colonel Appointments overseas. However, as the current holders of the General Secretary & Deputy General Secretary appointments in RACO are in the rank of Commandant and with no requirement to fill 2 of the Colonel overseas appointments no vacancy existed 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 77 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 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.
No comments