Written answers
Wednesday, 15 February 2017
Department of Defence
Defence Forces Recruitment
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
308. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which promotional vacancies remain to be filled in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7755/17]
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service personnel,as stated in the 2015 White Paper on Defence. I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, as at 31 December 2016 was 9,126 personnel, comprising 7,332 Army, 704 Air Corps and 1,090 Naval Service, whole time equivalent.
The table outlines the establishment, strength and vacancies of the Permanent Defence Force, by Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as at 31 December 2016, based on the agreed stabilised strength for the Permanent Defence Force of 9,500.
The manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services.
Plans are being put in place to run a new General Service recruitment competition in the coming weeks. The intake of Cadets into the Permanent Defence Force is normally carried out on an annual basis, taking into consideration the operational requirements of the Defence Forces and the resource envelope allocated to Defence. It is planned to launch the 2017 Cadetship competitions shortly. Direct Entry Competitions are also held as required from which specialist appointments are filled. General Service recruitment and recruitment of further apprentices is also planned for 2017.
I am advised by the military authorities that their planned target is to induct approximately 860 new entrants to the Defence Forces across all services and competition streams in 2017. In 2016, 690 new entrants were inducted (590 General Service and 100 Cadets). 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, has been launched. Promotions from the Order of Merit Lists from this competition will commence in Q3 2017.
In addition, targeted recruitment will continue in 2017 so as to maintain the serving strength at or close to 9,500 personnel. It is my intention that promotion, along with targeted recruitment, will continue to be carried out within the resource envelope allocated to Defence.
| = | 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 | 257 | 306 | 167 | 29 | 32 | 115 | 169 | 973 | 1,438 | 3,880 |
| Army Strength | 1 | 2 | 6 | 3 2 | 104 | 256 | 260 | 138 | 29 | 31 | 93 | 155 | 846 | 1,349 | 4,030 |
| Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 46 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 14 | 127 | 89 | -150 |
| 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 | 32 | 49 | 22 | 8 | 3 | 55 | 12 | 110 | 151 | 246* |
| Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 32 | 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 | 34 | 6 | 7 | 68 | 13 | 173 | 129 | 544 * |
| Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -6 | 32 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 53 | 51 | -142 |
| Total Vacancies by Rank | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | -1 | 94 | 62 | 0 | 2 | 30 | 18 | 201 | 172 | -214 |
* Figures include 107 Army Cadets, 26 Air Corps Cadets and 27 Naval Service Cadets.
There are an additional 72 personnel on career breaks/secondment, who are not included in the strengths in the above table.
Note: Equivalent Naval Service RanksBrigadier General/CommodoreColonel/CaptainLieutenant Colonel/CommanderCommandant/Lieutenant CommanderCaptain/Lieutenant(NS)Lieutenant/Sub LieutenantSergeant Mayor/Warrant OfficerBattalion Quartermaster Sergeant/Senior Chief Petty Officer Company Quartermaster Sergeant/Senior Petty OfficerCompany Sergeant/Chief Petty OfficerSergeant/Petty OfficerCorporal/Leading SeamanPrivate/Able Seaman.
No comments