Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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222. 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. [44255/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to maintaining a strength level of 9,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force (PDF). This comprises 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 of 30 September 2017, the strength of the PDF was 9,062 (Whole Time Equivalent).

The following table outlines the promotional posts vacant within the PDF, by Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as at 31 August 2017, the latest date for which such figures are available.

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. In this regard, promotions are ongoing within the Officer ranks in order to fill rank vacancies.

The interview stage of a new NCO promotion competition, to fill vacancies to the ranks of Sergeants and above, has taken place over the last few months. Vacancies are currently being filled from this competition.

It is my intention that promotions will continue to be carried out within the resource envelope allocated to Defence.

PDF vacancies as at 31 August 2017

Note: Equivalent Naval Service Ranks: Lieutenant Colonel/Commander; Commandant/Lieutenant Commander; Captain/Lieutenant (NS); Sergeant Major/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.