The Government is committed to maintaining the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, as set out in the White Paper on Defence.
To achieve this, there is significant ongoing recruitment. In 2017, a total of 751 new personnel were inducted into the Permanent Defence Force. These comprised general service recruits and cadets and specialists for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service. As of 31 December 2017, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 9,173 whole-time equivalent, WTE, personnel.
There are 85 appointments in the establishment for engine room artificers, ERAs. These range across ranks from warrant officer, senior chief petty officer, chief petty officer, petty officer and leading seaman. The military authorities have advised me that there are currently 13 vacancies, all of which are at the petty officer rank.
The Defence Forces recruit ERAs internally through the trainee technician scheme and, at times, externally through the direct entry scheme. There are 29 ERAs in training, seven of whom are expected to qualify as petty officers during 2018. The filling of further vacancies will continue to be progressed.
Other specialist posts, such as those relating to pilots, air traffic controllers and certain technicians, are presenting challenges in the context of recruitment and retention. I have previously acknowledged this fact, which is reflective of the current economic circumstances and attractive job opportunities in the private and commercial semi-State sectors. The extensive professional training that such specialists receive within the Defence Forces makes them very attractive to these sectors. This is not a unique challenge for the Defence Forces and it is also faced by military forces elsewhere.
The Public Service Pay Commission is further examining the issue of the recruitment and retention of specialist personnel within the Defence Forces, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020.
I am addressing the issue of specialist vacancies throughout the Permanent Defence Force with a range of recruitment methods including direct entry competitions for specialist positions. The scope to further expand direct entry is being considered. I have also directed civil and military management to develop proposals to facilitate former Permanent Defence Force personnel with appropriate skill sets to re-enter the Defence Forces.
Following acceptance by the Permanent Defence Force representative associations, the pay increases available under the Lansdowne Road agreement were applied to the Defence Forces. I amdelighted that both PDFORRA and RACO have also signed up to the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020, which is an extension of the Lansdowne Road agreement. The new agreement provides for further pay increases of between 6.2% and 7.4% over its lifetime.
I remain committed to maximising recruitment of capable personnel, developing serving personnel and achieving the best personnel and skills combination to ensure the Defence Forces retain the capacity to operate effectively across all roles.