The number of personnel employed in the Permanent Defence Force as at 31 December in each of the years from 2000 to 2010, and at 31 August 2011, is contained in Table 1. It was not possible to compile the figures for the years 1995 to 1999 in the time available. My Department is currently seeking to compile the relevant data and I will provide the information directly to the Deputy once it comes to hand.
Table 1 — Permanent Defence Force Personnel
Year
|
Number
|
2000
|
10,726
|
2001
|
10,675
|
2002
|
10,559
|
2003
|
10,498
|
2004
|
10,551
|
2005
|
10,446
|
2006
|
10,477
|
2007
|
10,434
|
2008
|
10,409
|
2009
|
9,906
|
2010
|
9,550
|
31 August 2011
|
9,513
|
The figures for the total number of civilian employees assigned to the various military installations over the past 15 years as at 31 December of each year, and at 31 August 2011, are contained in Table 2. The Department does not maintain records as to the number of civilian employees attached to each military barracks or installation in each of the same years.
Civilian employees, engaged under the provisions of the Defence Act 1954, are based at military locations around the country. The majority of these employees are made up of the craft, general operative and related grades involved mainly in the maintenance of military installations. The remaining civilian employees are mostly involved in clerical and storekeeping duties for the Defence Forces and also include professional and technical grades such as aircraft inspectors.
Table 2 — Civilian Employees
Year
|
Number
|
1996
|
1,290
|
1997
|
1,260
|
1998
|
1,245
|
1999
|
1,200
|
2000
|
1,150
|
2001
|
1,075
|
2002
|
1,025
|
2003
|
966
|
2004
|
917
|
2005
|
882
|
2006
|
857
|
2007
|
829
|
2008
|
820
|
2009
|
773
|
2010
|
735
|
31 August 2011
|
692
|
The Defence Forces compiles records of unit strengths on a monthly basis but does not routinely maintain information on barrack/installation strengths. Because a number of the larger units are based in more than one location, it would not be possible to extrapolate accurate information in relation to barrack strengths from these records.