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Defence Forces Strength

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 December 2012

Wednesday, 12 December 2012

Questions (174)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

174. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the total strength of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by gender and rank at present; the extent to which the numbers have fluctuated in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55032/12]

View answer

Written answers

The strength of the Permanent Defence Force at the end of October 2012, the latest date for which figures are available stood at 9,152, of which 573 (6.26%) are women. Comparative figures at the end of 2007 show a strength of 10,434 of which 560 (5.37%) were female.

The following table contains the strength, broken down into Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by gender and rank groupings for each of the years 2007 to 2011.

The Deputy may note a difference in the figures given here for end-December 2008 and 2009 and those given in my response to PQ 151 of Wednesday, 8th February 2012. In the previous figures, there was a discrepancy of 1 in the totals for 2008 due to a typographical error and the figures given for end-December 2009 were actually the end-January 2010 figures. The figures now provided in the following tables are the corrected figures.

TABULAR STATEMENT STRENGTH OF THE DEFENCE FORCES 31-Dec-07

-

LT

MAJ

BRIG

COL

LT

COMDT

CAPT

LT

TOTAL

SM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

SGTS

CPLS

TOTAL

PTES

CADETS

TOTAL

-

GEN

GEN

GEN

COL

OFFRS

NCOS

ARMY

1

3

8

40

133

319

248

297

1049

31

34

129

252

1052

1449

2947

4446

70

8,512

AIR CORPS

1

2

14

30

59

31

137

7

4

50

14

136

172

383

301

24

845

NAVAL SERVICE

1

2

12

42

51

51

159

6

7

75

15

212

172

487

415

16

1,077

TOTAL

1

3

10

44

159

391

358

379

1345

44

45

254

281

1400

1793

3817

5162

110

10434

TABULAR STATEMENT STRENGTH OF FEMALES IN THE DEFENCE FORCES 31-Dec-07

-

LT

MAJ

BRIG

COL

LT

COMDT

CAPT

LT

TOTAL

SM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

SGTS

CPLS

TOTAL

PTES

CADETS

TOTAL

-

GEN

GEN

GEN

COL

OFFRS

NCOS

ARMY

1

18

44

40

103

3

1

23

102

129

216

8

456

AIR CORPS

3

2

5

1

1

10

12

15

1

33

NAVAL SERVICE

10

8

18

7

7

40

6

71

TOTAL

1

18

57

50

126

4

1

24

119

148

271

15

560

TABULAR STATEMENT STRENGTH OF MALES IN THE DEFENCE FORCES 31-Dec-07

-

LT

MAJ

BRIG

COL

LT

COMDT

CAPT

LT

TOTAL

SM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

SGTS

CPLS

TOTAL

PTES

CADETS

TOTAL

-

GEN

GEN

GEN

COL

OFFRS

NCOS

ARMY

1

3

8

40

132

301

204

257

946

31

34

126

251

1029

1347

2818

4230

62

8,056

AIR CORPS

1

2

14

30

56

29

132

7

4

49

14

135

162

371

286

23

812

NAVAL SERVICE

1

2

12

42

41

43

141

6

7

75

15

212

165

480

375

10

1,006

TOTAL

1

3

10

44

158

373

301

329

1219

44

45

250

280

1376

1674

3669

4891

95

9874

TABULAR STATEMENT STRENGTH OF THE DEFENCE FORCES 31-Dec-08

-

LT

MAJ

BRIG

COL

LT

COMDT

CAPT

LT

TOTAL

SM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

SGTS

CPLS

TOTAL

PTES

CADETS

TOTAL

-

GEN

GEN

GEN

COL

OFFRS

NCOS

ARMY

1

3

7

41

131

305

237

346

1071

32

39

133

251

1048

1467

2970

4394

71

8,506

AIR CORPS

1

2

12

32

56

44

147

7

4

48

15

135

171

380

291

14

832

NAVAL SERVICE

1

2

12

43

42

60

160

6

7

76

15

216

175

495

402

13

1,070

TOTAL

1

3

9

45

155

380

335

450

1378

45

50

257

281

1399

1813

3845

5087

98

10,408

TABULAR STATEMENT STRENGTH OF FEMALES IN THE DEFENCE FORCES 31-Dec-08

-

LT

MAJ

BRIG

COL

LT

COMDT

CAPT

LT

TOTAL

SM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

SGTS

CPLS

TOTAL

PTES

CADETS

TOTAL

-

GEN

GEN

GEN

COL

OFFRS

NCOS

ARMY

1

21

48

41

111

3

1

32

108

144

200

13

468

AIR CORPS

2

2

4

1

3

10

14

13

1

32

NAVAL SERVICE

2

10

11

23

9

9

35

3

70

TOTAL

1

23

60

54

138

4

1

35

127

167

248

17

570

Tables

TABULAR STATEMENT

STRENGTH OF MALES IN THE DEFENCE FORCES

31-Dec-08

-

LT

MAJ

BRIG

COL

LT

COMDT

CAPT

LT

TOTAL

SM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

SGTS

CPLS

TOTAL

PTES

CADETS

TOTAL

-

GEN

GEN

GEN

COL

OFFRS

NCOS

ARMY

1

3

7

41

130

284

189

305

960

32

39

130

250

1016

1359

2826

4194

58

8,038

AIR CORPS

1

2

12

32

54

42

143

7

4

47

15

132

161

366

278

13

800

NAVAL SERVICE

1

2

12

41

32

49

137

6

7

76

15

216

166

486

367

10

1,000

TOTAL

1

3

9

45

154

357

275

396

1240

45

50

253

280

1364

1686

3678

4839

81

9838

TABULAR STATEMENT

STRENGTH OF THE DEFENCE FORCES

31-Dec-09

-

LT

MAJ

BRIG

COL

LT

COMDT

CAPT

LT

TOTAL

SM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

SGTS

CPLS

TOTAL

PTES

CADETS

TOTAL

-

GEN

GEN

GEN

COL

OFFRS

NCOS

ARMY

1

2

6

31

115

290

283

313

1041

26

30

127

233

991

1429

2836

4152

66

8,095

AIR CORPS

1

1

13

29

66

32

142

7

4

50

13

130

167

371

282

6

801

NAVAL SERVICE

1

13

39

49

62

164

4

6

74

16

210

165

475

379

19

1,037

TOTAL

1

2

8

32

141

358

398

407

1347

37

40

251

262

1331

1761

3682

4813

91

9,933

TABULAR STATEMENT

STRENGTH OF FEMALES IN THE DEFENCE FORCES

31-Dec-09

-

LT

MAJ

BRIG

COL

LT

COMDT

CAPT

LT

TOTAL

SM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

SGTS

CPLS

TOTAL

PTES

CADETS

TOTAL

-

GEN

GEN

GEN

COL

OFFRS

NCOS

ARMY

2

19

43

47

111

3

1

32

109

145

194

12

462

AIR CORPS

4

1

5

1

4

10

15

12

1

33

NAVAL SERVICE

2

10

11

23

9

9

34

6

72

TOTAL

2

21

57

59

139

4

1

36

128

169

240

19

567

TABULAR STATEMENT

STRENGTH OF MALES IN THE DEFENCE FORCES

31-Dec-09

-

LT

MAJ

BRIG

COL

LT

COMDT

CAPT

LT

TOTAL

SM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

SGTS

CPLS

TOTAL

PTES

CADETS

TOTAL

-

GEN

GEN

GEN

COL

OFFRS

NCOS

ARMY

1

2

6

31

113

271

240

266

930

26

30

124

232

959

1320

2691

3958

54

7,633

AIR CORPS

1

1

13

29

62

31

137

7

4

49

13

126

157

356

270

5

768

NAVAL SERVICE

1

13

37

39

51

141

4

6

74

16

210

156

466

345

13

965

TOTAL

1

2

8

32

139

337

341

348

1208

37

40

247

261

1295

1633

3513

4573

72

9366

TABULAR STATEMENT

STRENGTH OF THE DEFENCE FORCES

31-Dec-10

-

LT

MAJ

BRIG

COL

LT

COMDT

CAPT

LT

TOTAL

SM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

SGTS

CPLS

TOTAL

PTES

CADETS

TOTAL

-

GEN

GEN

GEN

COL

OFFRS

NCOS

ARMY

1

1

6

31

101

275

317

295

1027

24

24

112

218

941

1336

2655

4018

52

7,752

AIR CORPS

1

2

12

28

69

37

149

5

3

42

12

129

158

349

263

5

766

NAVAL SERVICE

2

11

37

52

59

161

4

5

65

15

205

156

450

403

18

1,032

TOTAL

1

2

6

35

124

340

438

391

1337

33

32

219

245

1275

1650

3454

4684

75

9550

TABULAR STATEMENT

STRENGTH OF FEMALES IN THE DEFENCE FORCES

31-Dec-10

-

LT

MAJ

BRIG

COL

LT

COMDT

CAPT

LT

TOTAL

SM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

SGTS

CPLS

TOTAL

PTES

CADETS

TOTAL

-

GEN

GEN

GEN

COL

OFFRS

NCOS

ARMY

1

18

41

51

111

2

1

33

109

145

200

11

467

AIR CORPS

4

2

6

1

4

9

14

12

32

NAVAL SERVICE

2

10

14

26

8

8

34

2

70

TOTAL

1

20

55

67

143

3

1

37

126

167

246

13

569

Question No. 175 answered with Question No. 169.

Question No. 176 answered with Question No. 9.

Tables
TABULAR STATEMENT
STRENGTH OF MALES IN THE DEFENCE FORCES
30-Nov-10

-

LT

MAJ

BRIG

COL

LT

COMDT

CAPT

LT

TOTAL

SM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

SGTS

CPLS

TOTAL

PTES

CADETS

TOTAL

-

GEN

GEN

GEN

COL

OFFRS

NCOS

ARMY

1

1

6

31

100

257

276

244

916

24

24

110

217

908

1227

2510

3818

41

7285

AIR CORPS

1

2

12

28

65

35

143

5

3

41

12

125

149

335

251

5

734

NAVAL SERVICE

0

2

11

35

42

45

135

4

5

65

15

205

148

442

369

16

962

TOTAL

1

2

6

35

123

320

383

324

1194

33

32

216

244

1238

1524

3287

4438

62

8981

TABULAR STATEMENT
STRENGTH OF THE DEFENCE FORCES
31-Dec-11

LT

MAJ

BRIG

COL

LT

COMDT

CAPT

LT

TOTAL

SM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

SGTS

CPLS

TOTAL

PTES

CADETS

TOTAL

GEN

GEN

GEN

COL

OFFRS

NCOS

ARMY

1

5

31

109

245

335

279

1005

29

26

95

189

889

1390

2618

3985

42

7,650

AIR CORPS

1

1

2

14

25

62

35

140

6

3

35

9

121

174

348

297

6

791

NAVAL SERVICE

1

2

13

32

63

47

158

4

4

53

11

186

180

438

386

15

997

TOTAL

1

1

7

35

136

302

460

361

1303

39

33

183

209

1196

1744

3404

4668

63

9438

TABULAR STATEMENT
STRENGTH OF FEMALES IN THE DEFENCE FORCES
31-Dec-11

-

LT

MAJ

BRIG

COL

LT

COMDT

CAPT

LT

TOTAL

SM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

SGTS

CPLS

TOTAL

PTES

CADETS

TOTAL

-

GEN

GEN

GEN

COL

OFFRS

NCOS

ARMY

2

19

46

45

112

2

1

35

119

157

194

4

467

AIR CORPS

2

3

5

1

4

13

18

7

30

NAVAL SERVICE

3

13

12

28

11

11

28

1

68

TOTAL

2

22

61

60

145

3

1

39

143

186

229

5

565

TABULAR STATEMENT
STRENGTH OF MALES IN THE DEFENCE FORCES
31-Dec-11

LT

MAJ

BRIG

COL

LT

COMDT

CAPT

LT

TOTAL

SM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

SGTS

CPLS

TOTAL

PTES

CADETS

TOTAL

GEN

GEN

GEN

COL

OFFRS

NCOS

ARMY

1

5

31

107

226

289

234

893

29

26

93

188

854

1271

2461

3791

38

7183

AIR CORPS

1

1

2

14

25

60

32

135

6

3

34

9

117

161

330

290

6

761

NAVAL SERVICE

1

2

13

29

50

35

130

4

4

53

11

186

169

427

358

14

929

TOTAL

1

1

7

35

134

280

399

301

1158

39

33

180

208

1157

1601

3218

4439

58

8873

Tables
TABULAR STATEMENT
STRENGTH OF THE DEFENCE FORCES
31-Oct-12

-

LT

MAJ

BRIG

COL

LT

COMDT

CAPT

LT

TOTAL

SM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

SGTS

CPLS

TOTAL

PTES

CADETS

TOTAL

-

GEN

GEN

GEN

COL

OFFRS

NCOS

ARMY

1

1

6

31

106

260

323

242

970

23

32

74

150

808

1396

2483

3884

43

7,380

AIR CORPS

1

1

1

13

33

57

29

135

6

3

30

8

108

181

336

272

11

754

NAVAL SERVICE

1

2

12

44

56

48

163

6

7

62

13

141

180

409

429

17

1,018

TOTAL

1

2

8

34

131

337

436

319

1268

35

42

166

171

1057

1757

3228

4585

71

9,152

TABULAR STATEMENT
STRENGTH OF FEMALES IN THE DEFENCE FORCES
31-Oct-12

-

LT

MAJ

BRIG

COL

LT

COMDT

CAPT

LT

TOTAL

SM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

SGTS

CPLS

TOTAL

PTES

CADETS

TOTAL

-

GEN

GEN

GEN

COL

OFFRS

NCOS

ARMY

2

26

42

43

113

2

32

121

155

202

3

473

AIR CORPS

3

2

5

1

4

13

18

8

31

NAVAL SERVICE

6

12

10

28

12

12

27

2

69

TOTAL

2

32

57

55

146

3

36

146

185

237

5

573

TABULAR STATEMENT
STRENGTH OF MALES IN THE DEFENCE FORCES
31-Oct-12

-

LT

MAJ

BRIG

COL

LT

COMDT

CAPT

LT

TOTAL

SM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

SGTS

CPLS

TOTAL

PTES

CADETS

TOTAL

-

GEN

GEN

GEN

COL

OFFRS

NCOS

ARMY

1

1

6

31

104

234

281

199

857

23

32

72

150

776

1275

2328

3682

40

6,907

AIR CORPS

1

1

1

13

33

54

27

130

6

3

29

8

104

168

318

264

11

723

NAVAL SERVICE

1

2

12

38

44

38

135

6

7

62

13

141

168

397

402

15

949

TOTAL

1

2

8

34

129

305

379

264

1122

35

42

163

171

1021

1611

3043

4348

66

8,579

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