Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Jan 1998

Vol. 486 No. 1

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Strength.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

371 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 127 of 17 December 1997 the current strength as against the permitted strength by rank of Na Buan Óglaigh, the FCA and An Slua Muirí in relation to commissioned officers as at 31 December 1997; and the same categorisation as at 30 June 1997. [1324/98]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith):

The current strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 30 June 1997 and 31 December 1997 was as follows:

Officers of the Permanant Defence Force

	Lt Gen	Maj Gen	Brig Gen	Col	Lt Col	Comdt	Capt	Lt	2/Lt	Total
Strength 30 June 1997	1	3	10	43	150	442	551	157	60	1,417
Strength 31 December 1997	1	3	8	38	28	440	504	182	65	1,369

The total proposed strength for officers of the Permanent Defence Force on 31 December 1998 as recommended under the Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan is 1,347.

The permitted officers strength for the FCA and the Slua Muirí combined is 766. The actual strengths as at 30 June and 31 December 1997 were as follows:

FCA Strengths

	Comdt	Capt	Lt	2/Lt	Total
30 June 1997	119	236	220	96	671
31 December 1997	118	237	235	105	695

Slua Muirí Strengths

	Comdt	Capt	Lt	2/Lt	Total
30 June 1997	5	9	11	2	27
1 December 1997	5	9	10	8	32