Written answers
Tuesday, 24 March 2015
Department of Defence
Defence Forces Recruitment
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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417. To ask the Minister for Defence the number of promotional positions remaining to be filled throughout the Defence Forces at all ranks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12131/15]
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 28 February 2015, the latest date for which figures are available was 9,2 77, comprising 7,4 58 Army, 765 Air Corps and 1,054 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 28 February 2015, 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 continue to be carried out within the resource envelope allocated to Defence.
PDF Strength by Rank as at 28 February 2015versus 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 | 3 5 ** | 110 | 25 7 | 306 | 167 | 29 | 33 | 114 | 170 | 973 | 1,437 | 3,880 |
| Army Strength | 1 | 0 | 6 | 32** | 104 | 251 | 269 | 228 | 29 | 32 | 106 | 161 | 893 | 1,373 | 3,907*** |
| Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 2* | 0 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 37 | - 61 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 80 | 64 | - 27 |
| 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 | 53 | 14 | 126 | 154 | 275*** |
| Vacancies by Rank | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 2 9 | 4 9 |
| 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 | 62 | 31 | 6 | 7 | 73 | 9 | 198 | 150 | 453*** |
| Vacancies by Rank | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 28 | 30 | - 51 |
| Total Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 0* | 0 | 3 ** | 9 | 1 3 | 66 | - 31 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 1 5 | 1 13 | 123 | - 29 |
** Within the Establishment figures there is provision for 10 Colonel Appointments overseas. However, as there is no requirement to fill 2 of the Colonel overseas appointments no vacancy exists in the rank of Colonel in the Army.
*** Includes 20 Army Cadets, 23 Air Corps Cadets and 10 Naval Service Cadets.
There are an additional 7 3 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 Major/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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