Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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2078. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of persons who have left the Defence Forces in 2015 and 2016 and to date 2017, not including mandatory retirements, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36780/17]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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2079. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of persons within the Defence Forces who have taken mandatory retirement in 2015 and 2016 and to date in 2017; the number estimated to take mandatory retirement in each of the years 2018 to 2020, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36781/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2078 and 2079 together.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables below. Figures quoted for 2017 are accurate to 31st August, 2017.

Personnel exiting Defence Forces excluding Mandatory Retirements

Personnel exiting Defence Forces by way of Mandatory Retirement

Estimated mandatory retirements from 2018 to 2020

The term “mandatory retirement” encompasses personnel who fall into such categories as those who have retired on age grounds and those who fall below required medical standards. The term “not including mandatory retirement” encompasses personnel who fall into such categories as those who leave at their own request, those who leave by way of purchasing their discharge and those who leave the Defence Forces having served 21 years.

The manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with operational requirements. 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. In 2017, the Defence Forces are targeting an increase in the level of recruitment across the range of recruitment streams. The 2017 Cadet competition was launched on 22 March 2017. A total of 100 Cadet inductions are due to take place in September 2017.

General service recruitment campaigns for both the Army and Naval Service were launched earlier this year. The competitions have now progressed and general service recruitment has commenced. It is also planned to launch another general service recruitment campaign later this month.