Written answers
Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Department of Defence
Defence Forces Personnel
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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110. To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which promotional posts remain to be filled in the Defence Forces, at all ranks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7347/15]
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 31 December 2014, the latest date for which figures are available was 9,280, comprising 7,457 Army, 766 Air Corps and 1,057 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 December 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 under way.
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 continue to be carried out within the resource envelope allocated to Defence.
PDF Strength by Rank as at 31 December2014 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 | 2 | 6 | 33** | 104 | 243 | 280 | 219 | 29 | 32 | 100 | 158 | 871 | 1,396 | 3,983*** |
| Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 2* | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 2 | 26 | - 52 | 0 | 1 | 1 4 | 1 2 | 102 | 41 | - 103 |
| 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 | 11 | 31 | 55 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 50 | 14 | 124 | 158 | 280*** |
| Vacancies by Rank | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 2 5 | 44 |
| 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 | 13 | 43 | 61 | 34 | 6 | 7 | 68 | 15 | 170 | 171 | 466*** |
| Vacancies by Rank | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 5 6 | 9 | -64 |
| Total Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 0* | 0 | 4** | 9 | 1 9 | 56 | - 25 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 1 2 | 165 | 75 | - 123 |
** 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 39 Army Cadets, 23 Air Corps Cadets and 12 Naval Service Cadets. There are an additional 75 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
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