Written answers

Tuesday, 26 January 2016

Department of Defence

Defence Forces Personnel Data

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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268. To ask the Minister for Defence the number of promotional positions to be filled in each of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3270/16]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon 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 2015, the latest date for which figures are available was 9,140, comprising 7,309 Army, 748 Air Corps and 1,083 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 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 under way.

In addition, targeted recruitment will continue in 2016 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 December 2015 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 3 4 110 25 7 306 167 29 32 115 169 973 1,437 3,881
Army Strength 1 2 6 33 106 263 267 186 29 32 103 162 919 1,308 3,941**
Vacancies by Rank 0 0 0 1 * 4 -6 39 - 19 0 0 1 2 7 54 12 9 - 60
Air Corps Rank Establishment 0 0 1 3 14 3 6 65 48 8 4 5 6 14 1 31 1 83 324

Air Corps Strength 0 0 1 2 14 31 60 16 8 4 54 14 124 150 272**
Vacancies by Rank 0 0 0 1 0 5 5 32 0 0 2 0 7 33 52
Naval Service Rank Establishment 0 0 1 2 13 45 81 41 6 7 75 15 226 180 402
Naval Service Strength 0 0 1 2 13 51 52 32 6 7 76 15 187 140 504**
Vacancies by Rank 0 0 0 0 0 - 6 2 9 9 0 0 -1 0 39 40 - 102
Total Vacancies by Rank 0 0 0 2* 4 -7 7322 0 0 1 3 7 100 202 -110

* Within the Establishment figures there is provision for 10 Colonel Appointments overseas. However, with no requirement to fill 1 of the Colonel overseas appointments, no vacancy exists in the rank of Colonel in the Army.

** Includes 48 Army Cadets, 27 Air Corps Cadets and 15 Naval Service Cadets. There are an additional 54 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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