Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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282. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason for the delay in promotions arising from the captain to commandant competition; if it is caused by an attempt to generate payroll savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17357/16]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Defence (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2016, made on 14 June 2016 under S. 2(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977, was approved by Government at its meeting on 14 June 2016. The promotional instruments for the relevant personnel were signed on 16 June 2016 and Department officials are now processing same. Within the available resources in the Defence Vote, there is no requirement to generate payroll savings so there is no basis to suggest there was an attempt to do so. As already announced, 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.