Written answers
Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Department of Defence
Defence Forces Personnel Data
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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986. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of promotional positions waiting to be filled throughout the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27440/16]
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 31 July 2016, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,025, comprising 7,233 Army, 718 Air Corps and 1,074 Naval Service, whole time equivalent 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 July 2016 , based on the agreed stabilised strength for the Permanent Defence Force of 9,500.
Promotions are ongoing within the Officer ranks in order to fill rank vacancies. A new NCO promotion competition, to fill vacancies to the ranks of Sergeants and above, will be held in Q4 2016/Q1 2017 .
In addition, targeted recruitment will continue in 2016 so as to maintain the serving strength at or close to 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.
| Table | 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 | 34 | 110 | 257 | 306 | 167 | 29 | 32 | 115 | 169 | 973 | 1,438 | 3,880 |
| Army Strength | 1 | 2 | 5 | 31 | 108 | 259 | 272 | 153 | 29 | 32 | 104 | 161 | 892 | 1,293 | 3,891*** |
| Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 0 | 1* | 3** | 2 | -2 | 34 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 81 | 145 | -11 |
| Air Corps Rank Establishment | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 36 | 65 | 48 | 8 | 4 | 56 | 14 | 131 | 183 | 324 |
| Air Corps Strength | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 33 | 52 | 22 | 8 | 3 | 55 | 14 | 119 | 150 | 246*** |
| Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 33 | 78 |
| 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 | 49 | 28 | 6 | 7 | 74 | 15 | 179 | 132 | 517*** |
| Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -6 | 32 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 48 | -115 |
| Total Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 0 | 1* | 3** | 4 | -5 | 79 | 53 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 140 | 22 6 | -48 |
**Within the Establishment figures there is provision for 10 Colonel Appointments overseas. However, with no requirement to fill 1 of the Colonel overseas appointments, only 2 vacancies existed in the rank of Colonel in the Army on 31 July 2016.
***Includes 29 Army Cadets, 15 Air Corps Cadets and 14 Naval Service Cadets.
There are an additional 65 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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