Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 October 2011
104 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Defence the number of persons recruited into the Army, the Naval Service and the Air Corps for the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31691/11]
View answerThe number of persons who were recruited into the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps for the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011 is as follows:
|
Army |
Naval Service |
Air Corps |
Total |
|
|
2007 |
478 |
87 |
0 |
565 |
|
2008 |
441 |
66 |
0 |
507 |
|
2009 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2010 |
77 |
38 |
0 |
115 |
|
2011 (to date) |
215 |
35 |
40 |
290 |
Recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force was suspended in late 2008 pending a review of the best means by which to achieve the reduction of 3% in payroll costs that had been applied, in common with other areas of the public service, to the Defence Forces. The present position is that, within the context of consolidating the public finances, the Government is focused firmly on maintaining the operational efficiency of the Defence Forces. To this end, targeted recruitment was carried out in 2010 and is continuing in 2011.
Given the particular circumstances of the Defence Forces it is my intention that targeted recruitment will continue within the resource envelope allocated to Defence for 2012. With the support of the Chief of Staff, and within the available resources, I intend to retain the capacity of the Defence organisation to operate effectively across all roles, while contributing to the necessary public service economies. I am advised that at this time the Defence Forces retain the capacity to undertake the tasks laid down by Government both at home and overseas.
