Vol. 487 No. 7
29 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Defence the number of vessels available to the Naval Service; the average number at sea at any one time; if adequate numbers are available to staff these vessels; the reason it is now necessary to advertise outside the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4784/98]
39 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the number of vessels available to the Naval Service; the average number at sea at any one time; if adequate numbers are available to staff these vessels; the reason it is now necessary to advertise outside the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4783/98]
49 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence if it is intended to recruit personnel from outside the State for the Naval Service; if so, the reason for this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4923/98]
157 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the current strength and the laid down establishment of the officer corps of the Naval Service; his views on reports that low morale in the service is leading to officers leaving the service short of retirement age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5172/98]
158 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the number of Naval Service officers who resigned or retired each month over the past 12 months: the number who resigned before retiring age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5173/98]
169 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the establishment and current strength of all ranks other than commissioned officers in the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5185/98]
206 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the total strength of the Naval Service; the plans, if any, he has for further recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5281/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 39, 49, 157, 158, 169 and 206 together.
At present, the Naval Service is equipped with a total of seven vessels comprising one helicopter vessel, four off shore patrol vessels and two coastal patrol vessels. The current strength of the Naval Service at 31 December 1997 is 1,025 — including cadets. Arising from recent recruitment campaigns 20 recruits were enlisted in the Naval Service in 1996 and a further 80 in 1997. Thirteen Naval Service cadets and four apprentices are undergoing training at present. A further recruitment campaign to the Defence Forces will be advertised shortly and it is hoped to recruit a total of 500 in this campaign, some of whom will be assigned to the Naval Service.
A competition will be advertised shortly to recruit ten watchkeeping officers to the executive branch of the Naval Service. All applicants who meet the general qualifications and standards laid down by the Department of Defence are eligible to compete and all applications will be treated on merit. The advertising of vacancies in publications outside the State is not unusual given the nature of the posts being filled and the qualifications required. It is likely that a number of professionally qualified candidates who would be interested in these positions may be resident and employed outside Ireland and it is desirable to make such potential candidates aware of the vacancies in question.
|
Rank |
Strength at 31 December, 1997 |
|
Commodore |
1 |
|
Captain |
3 |
|
Commander |
7 |
|
Lieutenant Commander |
41 |
|
Lieutenant |
47 |
|
Sub Lieutenant |
18 |
|
Ensign |
9 |
|
Warrant Officer |
7 |
|
Senior Chief Petty Officer |
4 |
|
Chief Petty Officer |
54 |
|
Senior Petty Officer |
16 |
|
Petty Officer |
173 |
|
Leading Seaman |
188 |
|
Seaman |
444 |
|
Cadets |
13 |
|
February 1997 |
Nil |
August 1997 |
Nil |
|
March 1997 |
Nil |
September 1997 |
1 |
|
April 1997 |
Nil |
October 1997 |
Nil |
|
May 1997 |
Nil |
November 1997 |
2 |
|
June 1997 |
1 |
December 1997 |
1 |
|
July 1997 |
1 |
January 1998 |
1 |
