Written answers

Tuesday, 23 May 2017

Department of Defence

Defence Forces Personnel Data

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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694. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of persons that have left the Defence Forces in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24442/17]

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below:

​2010
​2011
​2012
​2013
​2014
​2015
​2016
​2017

(30/04/17)
​Officers
​53
​72
​70
​59
​82
​75
​80
​22
​Other Ranks
​481
​657
​733
​386
​387
​481
​575
​201
​Total
​534
​729
​803
445​
469​
556​
655​
223

The Government is committed to maintaining the establishment of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service as stated in the 2015 White Paper on Defence. On an ongoing basis, the manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services. As there is significant turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force targeted recruitment has been and is currently taking place so as to maintain the agreed strength levels. As with other areas of the public service, challenges have arisen in relation to the recruitment and retention of personnel in particular areas of expertise.

I am advised by the military authorities that their planned target is to induct approximately 850 new entrants to the Defence Forces across all services and competition streams in 2017. A new General Service Recruitment campaign was lau nched on 23 February 2017 and the 2017 Cadetship competition was launched in March 2017. Direct Entry Competitions are also held as required from which specialist appointments are filled. An Air Corps apprentice class was also inducted in March 2017.

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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695. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces officers available for duty in each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017, by unit and brigade, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24443/17]

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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It was not possible to collate the data in the timeframe available. When the information is received from the military authorities, I shall pass it on to the Deputy.

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