Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 3

Written Answers - Defence Forces Strength.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

64 Mr. G. Mitchell 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 2000; the category to which they belong; if they left by way of early retirement, voluntary early retirement scheme, resignation or other reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13709/00]

Ivan Yates

Question:

81 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Defence the concerns he has at the number of officers currently leaving the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13710/00]

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

135 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence his views on the number of officers currently leaving the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13841/00]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 81 and 135 together.

As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose to circulate it in the Official Report.

As one might reasonably expect, members of the Permanent Defence Force, across all ranks, take up offers of civilian employment in times of economic prosperity.

While this would also apply to some extent to certain other categories of public sector employees, there are two quite distinctive factors which specifically impinge upon the general PDF situation. The PDF pension schemes are amongst the most generous within the Public Service. For instance, 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.

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 as electronics and communications technicians and also qualifications in computer software and information technology. Many military personnel, in all ranks, are increasingly educated to diploma, degree and indeed 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 to 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 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	34.00	24.00		58.00
On termination of engagement	59.00	18.00		77.00
At his own request after 12 years service	17.00	22.00		39.00
Discharge by purchase	6.00	19.00		25.00
Discharge by purchase of a Recruit		11.00		11.00
Below the Required Medical Standards	12.00	25.00		37.00

Reason for Discharge	NCO's	Privates	Cadets	Total
On conviction by the Civil Power		1.00		1.00
On sentence of discharge from the Permanent Defence Force		3.00		3.00
At his own request on compassionate grounds		4.00		4.00
For the purpose of appointment to be an officer	1.00		28.00	29.00
Determination of service by the Minister for Defence	1.00	6.00		7.00
Total	130.00	133.00	28.00	291.00

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	56.00	17.00		73.00
On termination of engagement	25.00	12.00		37.00
At his own request after 12 years service	15.00	27.00		42.00
Discharge by Purchase	10.00	40.00		50.00
Discharge by Purchase of a Recruit		3.00		3.00
At his own request (Cadets)			3.00	3.00
Below the Required Medical Standards	33.00	33.00		66.00
On conviction by the Civil Power		1.00		1.00
On sentence of discharge from the Permanent Defence Force		2.00		2.00
At his own request on compassionate grounds	2.00	3.00		5.00
His services being no longer required		2.00		2.00
For the purpose of appointment to be an officer			31.00	31.00
Determination of service by the Minister for Defence	5.00	4.00	2.00	11.00
Voluntary Early Retirement	276.00	162.00		438.00
Total	422.00	306.00	36.00	764.00

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	87.00	26.00		113.00
On termination of engagement	35.00	29.00		64.00
At his own request after 12 years service	26.00	13.00		39.00
Discharge by purchase	11.00	65.0		76.00
Discharge by purchase of a Recruit		113.00		113.00
Below the Required Medical Standards	6.00	17.00		23.00
Not having been finally approved		6.00		6.00
At his own request on compassionate grounds	1.00	4.00		5.00
His services being no longer required		1.00		1.00
For the purpose of appointment to be an officer			33.00	33.00
Determination of service by the Minister for Defence	2.00	5.00		7.00
For the purpose of re-enlistment		1.00		1.00
At his own request (Cadets)			4.00	4.00
Voluntary Early Retirement	384.00	288.00		672.00
Total	552.00	568.00	37.00	1,157.00

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	114.00	37.00		151.00
On termination of engagement	37.00	21.00		58.00
At his own request after 12 years service	21.00	27.00		48.00
Discharge by Purchase	12.00	57.00		69.00
Discharge by Purchase of a Recruit		114.00		114.00
Below the Required Medical Standards	13.00	22.00		35.00
Not having been finally approved		4.00		4.00
On conviction by the Civil Power	1.00	1.00		2.00
At his own request on compassionate grounds		1.00		1.00
For the purpose of appointment to be an officer	1.00	1.00	33.00	35.00
Determination of service by the Minister for Defence	1.00	3.00		4.00
For the purpose of re-enlistment		2.00		2.00
At his own request (Cadets)			6.00	6.00
Voluntary Early Retirement	244.00	102.00		346.00
Total	444.00	392.00	39.00	875.00

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	162.00	74.00		236.00
On termination of engagement	74.00	63.00		137.00
At his own request after 12 years service	24.00	34.00		58.00
Discharge by Purchase	7.00	132.00		139.00
Discharge by Purchase of a Recruit		127.00		127.00
Below the Required Medical Standards	3.00	17.00		20.00
Not having been finally approved		10.00		10.00
On conviction by the Civil Power		2.00		2.00
Not likely to become efficient		2.00		2.00
On sentence of discharge from the Permanent Defence Force		2.00		2.00
At his own request on compassionate grounds		4.00		4.00
His services being no longer required		1.00		1.00
For the purpose of appointment to be an officer	2.00		41.00	43.00
Determination of service by the Minister for Defence	7.00	18.00		25.00
At his own request (Cadets)			7.00	7.00
Total	279.00	486.00	48.00	813.00

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	40.00	21.00		61.00
On termination of engagement	11.00	7.00		18.00
At his own request after 12 years service	5.00	8.00		13.00
Discharge by Purchase	2.00	26.00		28.00
Discharge by Purchase of a Recruit		26.00		26.00
Below the Required Medical Standards		5.00		5.00
Not having been finally approved		1.00		1.00
On conviction by the Civil Power		1.00		1.00
At his own request on compassionate grounds		1.00		1.00
For the purpose of appointment to be an officer	3.00			3.00
Determination of service by the Minister for Defence	3.00	2.00		5.00
For the purpose of re-enlistment		3.00		3.00
At his own request (Cadets)			1.00	1.00
Total	64.00	101.00	1.00	166.00

Discharges From the Permanent Defence Force

Officers – 1995

	Lt. Gen.	Maj. Gen.	Brig. Gen.	Colonel	Lt. Colonel	Comdt.	Captain	Lt.	Total
Death					3.00		1.00	1.00	5.00
Resignation							1.00		1.00
Retirement				1.00	1.00	13.00	10.00		25.00
Total				1.00	4.00	13.00	12.00	1.00	31.00
Age Grounds			1.00	3.00	3.00		2.00		9.00
Overall Total			1.00	4.00	7.00	13.00	14.00	1.00	40.00

Discharges From the Permanent Defence Force

Officers – 1996

	Lt. Gen.	Maj. Gen.	Brig. Gen.	Colonel	Lt. Colonel	Comdt.	Captain	Lt.	Total
Voluntary Early Retirement					5.00	36.00	20.00		61.00
Death					1.00		1.00		2.00
Retirement				1.00	3.00	9.00	26.00	1.00	40.00
Total				1.00	9.00	45.00	47.00	1.00	103.00
Age Grounds		1.00	1.00	5.00	4.00	3.00	5.00		19.00
Overall Total		1.00	1.00	6.00	13.00	48.00	52.00	1.00	122.00

Discharges From the Permanent Defence Force

Officers – 1997

	Lt. Gen.	Maj. Gen.	Brig. Gen.	Colonel	Lt. Colonel	Comdt.	Captain	Lt.	Total
Voluntary Early Retirement				1.00	2.00	36.00	30.00		69.00
Death						1.00			1.00
Resignation							1.00		1.00
Retirement					2.00	8.00	30.00		40.00
Total				1.00	4.00	45.00	61.00		111.00
Age Grounds			1.00	2.00	13.00				16.00
Overall Total			1.00	3.00	17.00	45.00	61.00		127.00

Discharges From the Permanent Defence Force

Officers – 1998

	Lt. Gen.	Maj. Gen.	Brig. Gen.	Colonel	Lt. Colonel	Comdt.	Captain	Lt.	Total
Voluntary Early Retirement					1.00				1.00
Death						1.00			1.00
Retirement				2.00	2.00	16.00	47.00		67.00
Total				2.00	3.00	17.00	47.00		69.00
Age Grounds	1.00	1.00	1.00	6.00	4.00	7.00	1.00		21.00
Overall Total	1.00	1.00	1.00	8.00	7.00	24.00	48.00		90.00

Discharges From the Permanent Defence Force

Officers – 1999

	Lt. Gen.	Maj. Gen.	Brig. Gen.	Colonel	Lt. Colonel	Comdt.	Captain	Lt.	Total
Death						1.00	2.00		3.00
Resignation								4.00	4.00
Retirement			1.00	2.00	6.00	20.00	35.00	1.00	65.00
Total			1.00	2.00	6.00	21.00	37.00	5.00	72.00
Age Grounds		1.00		8.00	12.00	11.00	1.00		33.00
Overall Total		1.00	1.00	10.00	18.00	32.00	38.00	5.00	105.00

Discharges From the Permanent Defence Force

Officers – 2000 to date

	Lt. Gen.	Maj. Gen.	Brig. Gen.	Colonel	Lt. Colonel	Comdt.	Captain	Lt.	Total
Death						1.00			1.00
Resignation							1.00		1.00
Retirement				1.00	10.00	10.00	2.00		23.00
Total				1.00	10.00	11.00	3.00		25.00
Age Grounds			1.00		2.00				3.00
Overall Total			1.00	1.00	12.00	11.00	3.00		28.00