Vol. 519 No. 3
42 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the number of personnel of all ranks who have left the Defence Forces in each of the years from 1995 to 1999 and to date; the category of rank to which they belonged; if they left by way of early retirement, the voluntary early retirement scheme, resignation or other reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13766/00]
134 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the number of personnel of all ranks who have left the Defence Forces in each of the years 1995 to 1999 and to date; the category to which they belong; if they left by way of early retirement, the voluntary early retirement scheme, resignation or other reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13840/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 134 together.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose to circulate it with the Official Report.
As one might reasonably expect, members of the Defence Forces across all ranks take up offers of civilian employment in times of economic prosperity. While this also applies to some extent to certain other categories of public sector employees, there are two quite distinctive factors which specifically impinge upon the PDF. First, the PDF pension schemes are among the most generous in the public service. For example, an enlisted man or non-commissioned officer can retire with an immediate pension and retirement lump sum after some 21 years service, often implying a real potential for retirement at about age 40. Moreover, in the case of commissioned officers, a pension is payable along with a lump sum after the completion of 12 years military service. For example, an officer, such as an Army captain or commandant, may retire from the PDF in his or her late 30s and immediately receive a military pension along with a retirement lump sum.
Second, it is widely recognised, not least by private sector employers, that the programmes of personal development and training available in the Defence Forces are second to none and can stand comparison with the best in the private sector. This always applied across a wide range of traditional trades, such as electrical work and vehicle mechanics. Nowadays, however, military skills training is as likely to encompass well recognised courses of training in electronics and communications and also provide qualifications in computer software and information technology. Many military personnel in all ranks are increasingly educated to diploma, degree and to post graduate degree level in such readily marketable specialisms. Obviously, such personnel, already pre-trained and well experienced to the highest levels, are a tempting target for the private sector. The military authorities are aware of such individual personnel being actively head-hunted by private sector employers.
Leaving aside the temporary and once off nature of the former voluntary early retirement scheme, under the Defence Forces review implementation plan (DFRIP) over the years 1996-98, it should be noted that the demographic age structure within the PDF is such that a considerable number of personnel, whether serving as commissioned officers or as other ranks are now at a stage in their careers when they can retire and thus avail of the terms of their respective statutory pension and lump sum entitlements on the basis of accumulated years of past service. That this phenomenon coincides with an unprecedented degree of economic prosperity and employment opportunity in the private labour market will continue to challenge the senior management of the Defence Forces for some years to come.
Discharges from the Permanent Defence Force
Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates
1995
|
Reason for Discharge |
NCO's |
Privates |
Cadets |
Total |
|
On pension after 21 years service |
34 |
24 |
58 |
|
|
On termination of engagement |
59 |
18 |
77 |
|
|
At his own request after 12 years service |
17 |
22 |
39 |
|
|
Discharge by purchase |
6 |
19 |
25 |
|
|
Discharge by purchase of a Recruit |
11 |
11 |
||
|
Below the Required Medical Standards |
12 |
25 |
37 |
|
|
On conviction by the Civil Power |
1 |
1 |
||
|
On sentence of discharge from the Permanent Defence Force |
3 |
3 |
||
|
At his own request on compassionate grounds |
4 |
4 |
||
|
For the purpose of appointment to be an officer |
1 |
28 |
29 |
|
|
Determination of service by the Minister for Defence |
1 |
6 |
7 |
|
|
Total |
130 |
133 |
28 |
291 |
Discharges from the Permanent Defence Force
Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates
1996
|
Reason for Discharge |
NCO's |
Privates |
Cadets |
Total |
|
On pension after 21 years service |
56 |
17 |
73 |
|
|
On termination of engagement |
25 |
12 |
37 |
|
|
At his own request after 12 years service |
15 |
27 |
42 |
|
|
Discharge by purchase |
10 |
40 |
50 |
|
|
Discharge by purchase of a Recruit |
3 |
3 |
||
|
At his own request (Cadets) |
3 |
3 |
||
|
Below the Required Medical Standards |
33 |
33 |
66 |
|
|
On conviction by the Civil Power |
1 |
1 |
||
|
On sentence of discharge from the Permanent Defence Force |
2 |
2 |
||
|
At his own request on compassionate grounds |
2 |
3 |
5 |
|
|
His services being no longer required |
2 |
2 |
||
|
For the purpose of appointment to be an officer |
31 |
31 |
||
|
Determination of service by the Minister for Defence |
5 |
4 |
2 |
11 |
|
Voluntary Early Retirement |
276 |
162 |
438 |
|
|
Total |
422 |
306 |
36 |
764 |
Discharges from the Permanent Defence Force
Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates
1997
|
Reason for Discharge |
NCO's |
Privates |
Cadets |
Total |
|
On pension after 21 years service |
87 |
26 |
113 |
|
|
On termination of engagement |
35 |
29 |
64 |
|
|
At his own request after 12 years service |
26 |
13 |
39 |
|
|
Discharge by purchase |
11 |
65 |
76 |
|
|
Discharge by purchase of a Recruit |
113 |
113 |
||
|
Below the Required Medical Standards |
6 |
17 |
23 |
|
|
Not having been finally approved |
6 |
6 |
||
|
At his own request on compassionate grounds |
1 |
4 |
5 |
|
|
His service being no longer required |
1 |
1 |
||
|
For the purpose of appointment to be an officer |
33 |
33 |
||
|
Determination of service by the Minister for Defence |
2 |
5 |
7 |
|
|
For the purpose of re-enlistment |
1 |
1 |
||
|
At his own request (Cadets) |
4 |
4 |
||
|
Voluntary Early Retirement |
384 |
288 |
672 |
|
|
Total |
552 |
568 |
37 |
1,157 |
Discharges from the Permanent Defence Force
Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates
1998
|
Reason for Discharge |
NCO's |
Privates |
Cadets |
Total |
|
On pension after 21 years service |
114 |
37 |
151 |
|
|
On termination of engagement |
37 |
21 |
58 |
|
|
At his own request after 12 years service |
21 |
27 |
48 |
|
|
Discharge by purchase |
12 |
57 |
69 |
|
|
Discharge by purchase of a Recruit |
114 |
114 |
||
|
Below the Required Medical Standards |
13 |
22 |
35 |
|
|
Not having been finally approved |
4 |
4 |
||
|
On conviction by the Civil Power |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
At his own request on compassionate grounds |
1 |
1 |
||
|
For the purpose of appointment to be an officer |
1 |
1 |
33 |
35 |
|
Determination of service by the Minister for Defence |
1 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
For the purpose of re-enlistment |
2 |
2 |
||
|
At his own request (Cadets) |
6 |
6 |
||
|
Voluntary Early Retirement |
244 |
102 |
346 |
|
|
Total |
444 |
392 |
39 |
875 |
Discharges from the Permanent Defence Force
Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates
1999
|
Reason for Discharge |
NCO's |
Privates |
Cadets |
Total |
|
On pension after 21 years service |
162 |
74 |
236 |
|
|
On termination of engagement |
74 |
63 |
137 |
|
|
At his own request after 12 years service |
24 |
34 |
58 |
|
|
Discharge by purchase |
7 |
132 |
139 |
|
|
Discharge by purchase of a Recruit |
127 |
127 |
||
|
Below the Required Medical Standards |
3 |
17 |
20 |
|
|
Not having been finally approved |
10 |
10 |
||
|
On conviction by the Civil Power |
2 |
2 |
||
|
Not likely to become efficient |
2 |
2 |
||
|
On sentence of discharge from the Permanent Defence Force |
2 |
2 |
||
|
At his own request on compassionate grounds |
4 |
4 |
||
|
His services being no longer required |
1 |
1 |
||
|
For the purpose of appointment to be an officer |
2 |
41 |
43 |
|
|
Determination of service by the Minister for Defence |
7 |
18 |
25 |
|
|
At his own request (Cadets) |
7 |
7 |
||
|
Total |
279 |
486 |
48 |
813 |
Discharges from the Permanent Defence Force
Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates
2000 to Date
|
Reason for Discharge |
NCO's |
Privates |
Cadets |
Total |
|
On pension after 21 years service |
40 |
21 |
61 |
|
|
On termination of engagement |
11 |
7 |
18 |
|
|
At his own request after 12 years service |
5 |
8 |
13 |
|
|
Discharge by purchase |
2 |
26 |
28 |
|
|
Discharge by purchase of a Recruit |
26 |
26 |
||
|
Below the Required Medical Standards |
5 |
5 |
||
|
Not having been finally approved |
1 |
1 |
||
|
On conviction by the Civil Power |
1 |
1 |
||
|
At his own request on compassionate grounds |
1 |
1 |
||
|
For the purpose of appointment to be an officer |
3 |
3 |
||
|
Determination of service by the Minister for Defence |
3 |
2 |
5 |
|
|
For the purpose of re-enlistment |
3 |
3 |
||
|
At his own request (Cadets) |
1 |
1 |
||
|
Total |
64 |
101 |
1 |
166 |
I thank the Minister and look forward to reading his reply in detail in the Official Report. Has the recent recruitment campaign been successful? How many people have applied? Are serious gaps emerging in some ranks? Are the Defence Forces finding this a problem in respect of certain tasks? Has the number of members leaving implications for services overseas? I understand the Government, for example, is considering a request to send extra members of the Defence Forces to south Lebanon.
Recruitment is ongoing and all the indications are that there will not be a difficulty filling the 750 vacancies listed. The cadet competition is popular with 749 eligible applicants for 200 places. We will not have great difficulty meeting the required numbers. With regard to the effect of people retiring early, clearly losing people in a number of specialised areas in the prime of their lives is not something one would like to continue but, as I have explained many times, it is fantastic that this challenge faces us because for too long the options were not there. Young people have opportunities to work and engage their talents when they graduate from university and we should look on that positively. The Deputy will appreciate that when an individual retires, somebody else is promoted in his place. There are promotional opportunities when people retire early and it is good that promotions occur earlier sometimes.
Since we began the continuous recruitment programme we have had little or no difficulty in meeting our overseas commitments. We may have some difficulties at times in certain specialised areas and that is one of the reasons we were anxious to ensure in the White Paper that members of the reserve with the required training and ability would be provided with opportunities to fill these positions as they emerge. There is enormous demand in the commercial private sector for certain specialities and we are not able to compete with the remuneration offered. Recruitment is going well. We will meet our target. We are a little stretched overseas because Ireland is providing its highest level of service for years – 872 members – and we are doing our best to introduce innovative programmes in the human resources area to make sure skills are maintained.
