Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 4

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Strength.

John Perry

Question:

53 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Defence the number of personnel of all ranks who have left the Defence Forces from 1 January to 31 December 2000; the reason for their discharge; the categories to which they belong; and if they left by early retirement, voluntary early retirement or for other reasons. [3991/01]

John Perry

Question:

62 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Defence the number of serving personnel in all ranks of the Defence Forces at 31 December 2000; and the way in which these numbers compare to 31 December 1999 and 31 December 1998. [3992/01]

Ivor Callely

Question:

85 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Defence the personnel strength of the Defence Forces; if he will give a gender breakdown in this regard; the measures he intends to introduce to encourage greater gender balance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4064/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

104 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself as to the adequacy of the strength of the Air Corps, male and female; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4221/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

106 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the current strength, male and female, of the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4223/01]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 62, 85, 104 and 106 together.

Details of the number of personnel who have left the Defence Forces in the year 2000 and the strength of the Defence Forces at 31 December 2000, both male and female, are shown in the form of tabular statements which I propose to circulate with the Official Report. The strengths shown are the latest available from the military authorities.

The White Paper sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force, comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army. It is my intention to maintain the established Government policy of continuous recruitment to fill vacancies as required. I am satisfied that a vigorous continuance of this policy will ensure the maintenance of proper strengths at agreed levels in the Permanent Defence Force. It is proposed to enlist 1,000 personnel in the Permanent Defence Force from the 2001 recruitment campaign. The annual cadetship competition was advertised recently and it is proposed to offer 68 cadetships in the current year of which 12 will be Air Corps cadetships. It is proposed to hold a competition in the near future for 40 Air Corps apprenticeships. A proposal for the intake of a number of aeronautical engineers is being examined at present.

Women are eligible for service in the Army, Air Corps, Naval Service and in the Reserve Defence Force and to compete for all appointments on an equal basis and under the same general conditions as those which apply to men. All female personnel undergo the same training and receive the same military education as their male counterparts.

To encourage increased participation by women in the Defence Forces I decided in March 1998 to reduce the height requirement for all female recruits to 5 4. In previous years the trend for general service recruitment has been that 16% of all applicants have been female and that on average 16% of enlistments have been female. It is obviously not possible to predict what the relevant percentages will be in any future intakes of recruits, but there is no reason to assume that this pattern will change to any great degree.

The Government has now considered the final report from PricewaterhouseCoopers and have agreed in principle to the proposal that the State's future sea and air support requirements be discharged by the Naval Service and the Air Corps, on the basis of an appropriate mix of multi-tasking/multi-capabilities and dedicated services, and that Government decision-making on equipping and staffing of the Naval Service and the Air Corps should be made accordingly. The manpower levels of the Air Corps and Naval Service as provided for in the White Paper are in accordance with the report's recommendations.

Strength of the Defence Forces at 31 December

Rank	1998	1999	2000
Lieutenant-General	1	1	1
Major-General	2	2	2
Brigadier-General	8	10	9
Colonel	36	31	39
Lieutenant Colonel	132	132	133
Commandant	431	441	437
Captain	448	410	367
Lieutenant/Second Lieutenant	253	235	274
Total Officers	1,311	1,262	1,262
Sergeant-Major	42	42	46
Battalion Quartermaster-Sergeant	47	48	51
Company Sergeant	221	231	249
Company Quartermaster-Sergeant	294	276	255
Sergeant	1,359	1,319	1,310
Corporal	2,185	2,223	2,108
Private	5,769	5,523	5,337
Cadet	100	120	103
Total Non Commissioned Personnel	10,017	9,782	9,459
Grand Total All Ranks	11,328	11,044	10,721

Discharges from the Permanent Defence Force

1 January to 31 December 2000	Officers	Other Ranks	Cadets	Total
Not finally approved		4		4
Discharge by Purchase of a Recruit		155		155
Discharge by Purchase		207		207
At his own request after 12 years service		62		62
At his own request on compassionate grounds		11	2	13
On conviction by the Civil Power		3		3
Below the Required Medical Standards		25		25
For the purpose of appointment to be an officer		18		18
Determination of service by the Minister for Defence		6		6
On termination of engagement		99		99
On pension after 21 years service		267		267
Death	3	12		15
Transferred to the Reserve		29		29
Retirement on age grounds	17			17
Voluntary Retirement	54			55
Resignation	4			4
At own request (Cadet)			5	5
Total	78	870	7	955

Strength of Females in the Defence Forces

31 December 2000.

	Lt Gen	Maj Gen	Brig Gen	Col	Lt Col	Comdt	Capt	Lt	Total Offrs	Sm	Bqms	Cs	Cqms	Sgts	Cpls	Total Ncos	Ptes	Cadets	Total
Army	0	0	0	0	0	7	32	22	61	0	0	1	1	11	39	52	232	12	357
Air Corps	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	4	0	0	0	0	1	4	5	13	2	24
NavalService	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	36	6	48

Strength of Males in the Defence Forces

31 December 2000.

	Lt Gen	Maj Gen	Brig Gen	Col	Lt Col	Comdt	Capt	Lt	Total Offrs	Sm	Bqms	Cs	Cqms	Sgts	Cpls	Total Ncos	Ptes	Cadets	Total
Army	1	2	7	35	113	359	281	157	955	33	41	143	233	1,010	1,737	3,197	4,344	57	8,553
Air Corps	0	0	1	2	10	35	27	51	126	7	3	35	9	106	170	330	337	18	811
NavalService	0	0	1	2	10	36	25	36	110	6	7	70	12	182	158	435	375	8	928

Question No. 54 answered with Question No. 48.