I propose to take Questions Nos. 157, 160 and 164 together.
As of the 31 December 2023, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 7,550 personnel comprised of 6,136 Army personnel, 689 Air Corps personnel and 725 Naval Service personnel. The agreed establishment strength for the Permanent Defence Force was recently increased by 89 to 9,589 to account for the first cohort of Commission on the Defence Forces appointments; however, these posts have not been broken down by branch.
The tables attached outline the variance between current strength and the establishment strength, by rank, within the Army, Air Corps and the Naval Service as at 31 December 2023. Vacancies are filled in line with promotional arrangements, as appropriate, and by recruitment.
I have previously acknowledged the current staffing difficulties in the Defence Forces and, to counter these, there are a number of recruitment and retention initiatives currently underway.
I can assure the Deputy that 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.
Details by rank, within the Army, Air Corps and the Naval Service as at 31 December 2023.