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Defence Forces Recruitment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 October 2012

Wednesday, 24 October 2012

Questions (211)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

211. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the total cost to fill the 600 vacant army personnel in the Permanent Defence Forces and to maintain the agreed Permanent Defence Force strength of 9,500; if he will clarify in his previous reply his statement that the recruitment will be achieved within the resource envelope allocated to Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46643/12]

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Written answers

As stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question, Number 491 on 16 October last, the Government has decided to accept my recommendation that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force will be maintained at 9,500. The approximate pay cost involved in the recruitment of 600 personnel on an annual basis is €13,273,065 inclusive of Employer’s PRSI contribution. This figure is broken down in the following table:

Competition

Number of personnel

Approx. Pay Cost €

General Service Recruits*

541

12,163,265

Instrumentalists in the Defence Forces School of Music

28

535,240

Air Corps Apprentices

20

252,221

Naval Service Engine Room Artificers

11

322,339

Total

600

13,273,065

*As recruits progress through their training they have three different pay scales in the first year. The resource envelope allocated to Defence is the amount of funding allocated in order to cover all costs in a given year which are within the remit of Defence. In this regard, as the strength of the Permanent Defence Force is below the approved 9,500, there is sufficient funding available to allow for the intake of 600 personnel.

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