Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2004
182 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Defence the expected recruitment to the Defence Forces for 2004 and 2005; the Defence Forces’ strength by rank that are deployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7242/04]
View answerThe White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Defence Forces, comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army.
On 31 January 2004, the most recent date for which figures are available, the total strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 10,443. The breakdown of this figure by rank for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is shown on the tabular statement set out below.
It is envisaged that approximately 330 personnel will be recruited to the Permanent Defence Force in 2004 comprising general service recruits, cadets, air corps apprentices and direct entry personnel. At this time it is not possible to estimate what the recruitment requirements will be for 2005. It is my intention to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces to fill vacancies as required.
|
Strength of the Defence Forces |
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
31 January 2004 |
||||||||||
|
Lt Gen |
Maj Gen |
Brig Gen |
Col |
Lt Col |
Comdt |
Capt |
Lt |
Total Officers |
SM |
|
|
Army |
1 |
3 |
6 |
38 |
125 |
348 |
270 |
233 |
1,024 |
34 |
|
Naval Service |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
13 |
39 |
22 |
61 |
138 |
7 |
|
Air Corps |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
13 |
33 |
23 |
67 |
139 |
8 |
|
BQMs |
Cs |
CQMs |
Sgts |
Cpls |
Total NCOs |
Ptes |
Rec |
Cadets |
Total Other Ranks |
Total All Ranks |
|
|
Army |
41 |
138 |
249 |
1,063 |
1,556 |
3,081 |
4,126 |
142 |
97 |
7,446 |
8,470 |
|
Naval Service |
7 |
76 |
16 |
200 |
161 |
467 |
415 |
25 |
28 |
935 |
1,073 |
|
Air Corps |
4 |
52 |
15 |
128 |
206 |
413 |
337 |
11 |
761 |
900 |
