Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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385. To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which positions at all ranks remain to be filled in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1562/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 30 November 2014, the latest date for which figures are available was 9,305, comprising 7,480 Army, 764 Air Corps and 1,061 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 November 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. New NCO promotion competitions to fill vacancies to the ranks of Sergeants and above were held in late 2014 and promotions are currently underway.

In addition, targeted recruitment will continue in 2015 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 30 November2014 versus PDF Rank Establishment of 9,500