Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 5

Other Questions. - Defence Forces Strength.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

7 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the current strength of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps; his plans for the strength of each in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13164/03]

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

16 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the total number of personnel and the total number of female personnel broken down by rank at the latest date for which figures are available in respect of the Army, the Naval Service and the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13106/03]

Seán Ryan

Question:

29 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Defence if it is intended to reduce the overall number of members of the Defence Forces as part of the Government's decision to reduce overall public service numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13077/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

47 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the current and projected strength of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13308/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

51 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the degree to which current military strength is adequate to provide protection for vital installations throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13312/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

53 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which it is intended to increase or decrease the strength of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13314/03]

Mr. M. Smith

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 16, 29, 47, 51 and 53 together.

The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Per manent Defence Force, comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army. The White Paper also provided for the option of having 250 recruits in training at any one time. It is intended that an average number of 10,600 personnel will be maintained throughout 2003. There are no proposals to effect any change in the new approved numbers as set out in the White Paper and in the Price Waterhouse report. It is my intention to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces.

The protection of vital installations throughout the country is primarily a matter for An Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces aids the civil power by providing military guards at designated vital installations. The Defence Forces also provide mobile patrols to vital installations as required and are prepared to provide additional assistance as necessary. The military strength of armed guards and mobile patrols is a matter of ongoing review subject to a threat analysis of security matters both within and outside the State.

The strength of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service and the number of female personnel by rank within these services, as advised by the military authorities, is provided in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to publish in the Official Report. The figures provided are as on 31 March 2003 and are the most recent available.

Strength of Females in the Defence Forces

	LtGen	MajGen	BrigGen	Col	LtCol	Comdt	Capt	LT	TotalOffers	SM	Bqms	CS	Cqms	Sgts	Cpls	TotalNcos	Ptes	Cadets
Army	0	0	0	0	0	13	30	28	71	0	0	2	1	10	66	80	209	13
Air Corps	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	3	0	0	1	0	0	5	6	14	1
Naval Service	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	14	14	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	42	6

Strength of Males in the Defence Forces

	LtGen	MajGen	BrigGen	Col	LtCol	Comdt	Capt	LT	TotalOffers	SM	Bqms	CS	Cqms	Sgts	Cpls	TotalNcos	Ptes	Cadets
Army	1	3	7	36	119	336	250	173	925	34	37	140	248	1,051	1,506	3,016	4,103	88
Air Corps	0	0	1	2	13	34	23	59	132	8	4	50	10	124	199	395	339	10
Naval Service	0	0	1	2	13	42	21	45	124	7	7	74	15	190	143	436	410	15

Strength of the Defence Forces

	LtGen	MajGen	BrigGen	Col	LtCol	Comdt	Capt	LT	TotalOffers	SM	Bqms	CS	Cqms	Sgts	Cpls	TotalNcos	Ptes	Cadets
Army	1	3	7	36	119	349	280	201	996	34	37	143	249	1,061	1,572	3,096	4,312	101
Air Corps	0	0	1	2	13	34	24	61	135	8	4	51	10	124	204	401	353	11
Naval Service	0	0	1	2	13	42	21	59	138	7	7	74	15	190	143	436	452	21

Mr. McGinley

I understand that the combined strength of the Defence Forces is currently 10,600. There has been a significant overall reduction in numbers in recent years but the Minister maintains he has a leaner and more effective force. Are there any plans to reduce further the numbers in the Defence Forces? Will the Minister confirm or deny a rumour which is circulating that there are plans to reduce the numbers by a further 1,000? Are there difficulties in regard to recruitment, particularly in the Naval Service?

Mr. M. Smith

I do not like dealing with rumours but I intend to maintain Defence Forces numbers this year at 10,600. Any question of reducing the numbers by a further 1,000 is nonsense and should be dealt with as such. There are no recruitment difficulties beyond the normal obstacles. In some of the technical areas such as mechanical and electrical artificers and some of the engineering areas, the options in more dynamic employment throughout the economy attracted certain people in these specialist areas faster than we could replace them. However, the numbers in training in all these areas more than match our requirements, even though some will not come on stream until this year, next year or the year after, but the spade work is being done. We also allow the Naval Service to independently recruit people from outside the country. All is not perfect but things are manageable.

Mr. Wall

Have we been able to retain the number of female members in the Defence Forces? It seems we have been finding it difficult to maintain female numbers within the Defence Forces in the past year.

Mr. M. Smith

As Deputy Wall knows we were coming from a hopelessly low figure. I am sometimes reluctant to say how much the situation has improved because of the very low base from which we came. The numbers have improved substantially to approximately 436 in total. Recruitment of female members began just 17 or 18 years ago and continues to grow. Female members play a significant role in the Defence Forces. To say the numbers are adequate would be wrong. However, the numbers have improved and we are able to retain the existing numbers.

Mr. McGinley

Is recruitment extended to applicants from Northern Ireland?

Mr. M. Smith

Recruitment is open. We have had discussions with representative associations to extend recruitment outside the country. The negotiations have not been concluded but we do not have recruitment problems. In fact, we had a significant recruitment programme in the past couple of years. Approximately 77 new entrants joined up since the beginning of the year but I am not sure if any of them came from the North. I will check the details and let the Deputy know the position.