Jonathan O'Brien
Question:2Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Defence the total number of retirements this year in the Defence Forces; and the total number of Defence Force retirements he aims to achieve. [7201/12]
View answerWednesday, 8 February 2012
Questions (2, 3)
Dara Calleary
Question:4Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence the total number of retirements from the armed forces before the end of February 2012 pension changes; the number of senior positions that are now vacant in the armed forces; his plans to maintain military capacities in view of these retirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7013/12]
View answerOral answers (7 contributions)
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 4 together.
The number of personnel who retired from the Defence Forces in the period 1 January 2012 to 3 February 2012 was 125, and a further 237 personnel have indicated their intention to depart the Defence Forces before 29 February 2012. No target has been set for the number of retirements from the Permanent Defence Force. It should be noted that the Permanent Defence Force numbers have remained below those agreed under the employment control framework. It is the Government's intention that the Defence Forces retain the capacity to operate effectively across all of their assigned roles. It was against this backdrop, and having regard to restricted financial allocations, that the Government decided to maintain the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel. This recognises the significant modernisation that has been achieved to date.
In response to this revised strength ceiling of 9,500, there will be a major reorganisation of the Defence Forces encompassing a reduction in the number of Army brigades from three to two. I have already referred to the work being undertaken by the Chief of Staff and the Secretary General of my Department in this regard.
I recognise that the departure of the number of personnel outlined earlier over a short period will require close monitoring, particularly where vacancies arise in critical appointments. To address this issue, it is envisaged that limited promotion competitions will take place to provide candidates to fill critical vacancies, and arrangements for these promotion competitions have already been made. In addition, within the agreed 2012 Estimates, limited recruitment will be undertaken in 2012. Throughout this process careful monitoring will take place to ensure that any problems arising in the interim period are managed.
As of 31 December 2011 there was one vacancy at the rank of major general and one vacancy at the rank of brigadier general. Promotion competitions to fill these vacancies are currently under way. There were six and 12 vacancies, respectively, at the ranks of colonel and lieutenant colonel. The number of vacancies cited has been calculated based on the total number of Permanent Defence Force personnel specified in the employment control framework, which is 10,000. Once the reorganisation has been completed, it will be necessary to recalculate the number of vacancies based on the outcome of that process and in light of a reduced strength of 9,500.
The Minister mentioned the limited promotion competitions. With regard to the 362 personnel expected to retire this year, including those who have already retired and those who have indicated their intention to do so, does the Minister have a breakdown of that number by rank? If he does not have this information, maybe he can send it on to me.
I am just checking whether I have a breakdown of the ranks involved. I do not think so, but I can certainly provide this information to the Deputy.
Fine.
For the interest of Members of the House, the promotion competition for major general is taking place on 22 and 24 February; that for brigadier general is on 13, 20 and 21 February; that for colonel is on 12 March; that for the Army engineer corps is on 4 to 5 April; and there are a range of other dates between February and April on which the various other competitions for vacant positions will take place. Without major delay, I am expecting to be in a position to announce promotions once the independent boards have sat, the applications have been assessed and the recommendations have been furnished to me.
Will the retirements have any impact on our capability with regard to overseas or UNIFIL commitments for this year?
I do not have that information with me, but I will furnish it to the Deputy.