Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent)
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114. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the position regarding the promotion competition for enlisted personnel which was due to commence in 2021; when the competition is expected to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13461/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The NCO promotion competition that the Deputy refers to was originally scheduled to run in late 2021.

There has been ongoing consultation between civil/military management and the Representative Body, PDFORRA, to take account of a number of proposed changes to ensure improved efficiency of the competition process. This consutation process is almost completed and it is expected that the NCO Competition will be launched shortly.

Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent)
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115. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of promotions pending throughout the Defence Forces by branch and rank in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13462/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The table attached outlines the variance between current strength and the establishment strength, by Branch and by rank, within Permanent Defence Force as at 31st January 2022, the latest date for which such information is available.

Vacancies, where current strength is less than the establishment strength, are filled on an ongoing basis in line with promotional arrangements and, in certain cases, direct entry competitions and re-entry of ex PDF personnel. A number of initiatives are being implemented to counter current staffing challenges and these will play a role in restoring and retaining capacity and boosting specialist numbers.

It is normal, at a particular point in time, for some ranks to be oversubscribed and others to be undersubscribed. For example, whilst there are vacancies at the rank of Captain overall in the PDF, as can be seen in the attached table, there are currently substantially more Lieutenants than are provided for in the establishment.

Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent)
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116. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the position regarding his Departments implementation of recommendations within the Public Service Pay Commission 2019 on recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces, particularly in relation to options to tackle barriers to extended participation in the Permanent Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13463/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Report of the Public Service Pay Commission on Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces was accepted in full by the Government. A High Level Plan titled "Strengthening our Defence Forces” was also agreed and published on the same date. The high level plan comprised 15 individual projects most of which have now been completed or at an advanced stage.

Four projects relating to remuneration provided immediate benefits to Permanent Defence Force (PDF) members. Projects have also been completed dealing with enhanced professional military education, bespoke leadership training, a mental health, and wellbeing strategy, non-pay retention measures, consideration of the provision of additional specialist posts in certain areas, a review of technical pay groups, and a review of recruitment processes.

A project dealing with workforce planning is being progressed through the joint civil/military Strategic Human Resources Group. A further project considered options for incentivised long service arrangements for certain Officer and NCO ranks. A project dealing with a review of pay structures was superseded by the Commission on the Defence Forces, which was tasked in its terms of reference, among other things, to examine the evolution of all remuneration systems and structures currently in place in the Defence Forces.

The project examining Barriers to Extended Participation in the PDF was split into two phases. Phase 1 focussed on reviewing mandatory retirement ages for Commissioned Officers. Phase 2 examined the contracts of service and mandatory retirement ages for enlisted personnel.

The recommendations arising from the review requires consideration from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to implications on costs and pensions.

In December 2021, I secured agreement with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform which will allow an extension in service limits for Privates and Corporals, who were recruited to the Permanent Defence Force since 1 January 1994, to remain in service up to 50 years of age, subject to them meeting certain criteria including medical and fitness standards.

In addition, I also secured arrangements that will facilitate the extension of service limits of Sergeants recruited to the Permanent Defence Force since 1994. Details in relation to the proposal for these Sergeants will be finalised following further discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

The other recommendations in the review, which include recommendations in respect of mandatory retirement ages for Commissioned Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officer ranks, will be considered in the forum of an Inter-Departmental Working Group established by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to consider mandatory retirement ages for public service groups who have fast accrual pension arrangements.