Defence Forces Strength.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2005

Tuesday, 1 March 2005

Questions (333, 334, 335)

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

395 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the current strength by rank of the Air Corps; the way in which this figure compares with that of ten years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6937/05]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

396 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the current strength by rank of the Naval Service; the way in which this figure compares with that of ten years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6938/05]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

397 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the current strength by rank of the Army; the way in which this figure compares with that of ten years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6941/05]

Written answers

Minister for Defence (Mr. O’Dea)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 to 397, inclusive, together.

The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 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 ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces. Recruitment into the Permanent Defence Force will continue to maintain the strength at the level set out in the White Paper as required to meet military needs. There were 258 recent recruits undergoing training on 1 January 2005.

The strength of the Permanent Defence Force, comprising the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, as of 1 January 1995 and 1 January 2005, was as follows:

Strength of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as at 1/1/1995 and 1/1/2005

	LtGen	MajGen	BrigGen	Col	LtCol	Comdt	Capt	Lt	TotalOffrs	SM	BQMS	CS	CQMS	SGTs	CPLs	TotalNCOs	PTEs	Cadets	Total
Army 1/1/1995	0	2	6	36	133	410	490	200	1277	37	47	164	358	1365	2159	4130	5350	45	10802
Army 1/1/2005	1	2	6	38	124	349	274	245	1039	32	41	132	248	1036	1583	3072	4378	103	8592
Air Corps 1/1/1995	0	0	1	1	11	34	55	45	147	5	4	58	14	127	199	407	526	9	1089
Air Corps 1/1/2005	0	0	1	2	14	33	40	50	140	8	4	48	15	133	190	398	321	12	871
Naval Service 1/1/1995	0	0	1	2	11	34	62	24	134	6	5	64	15	189	181	460	439	11	1044
Naval Service 1/1/2005	0	0	1	2	13	46	22	72	156	7	7	76	16	195	189	490	421	21	1,088

Lt Gen — Lieutenant General

Maj Gen — Major General

Brig Gen — Brigadier General

Col — Colonel

Lt Col — Lieutenant Colonel

Comdt — Commandant

Capt — Captain

Lt — Lieutenant

SM — Sergeant Major

BQMS — Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant

CS — Company Sergeant

CQMS — Company Quartermaster Sergeant

SGTs — Sergeants

CPLs — Corporals

NCOs — Non Commissioned Officers

PTEs — Privates