Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 February 2014
151. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the number of positions in the Defence Forces or ranks approved waiting to be filled or vacant at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5976/14]
View answerI am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 31 December 2013, the latest date for which figures are available, was 9,236, comprising 7,434 Army, 779 Air Corps and 1,023 Naval Service personnel. The following table outlines the total vacancies, by rank, based on the agreed stabilised strength for the Permanent Defence Force of 9,500.
Merit based competitions to establish panels to fill outstanding Non Commissioned Officer vacancies were held in 2012. Promotions from these panels within the Permanent Defence Force in order to fill rank vacancies are almost concluded. Promotion competitions for Generals and Officers were held in the last quarter of 2013 with Generals having already been promoted, while a small number of Officer promotions are outstanding. It is planned to hold both Officer and Non Commissioned Officer competitions in 2014 and to run a new General Service recruitment competition commencing in March 2014. All promotions along with targeted recruitment will be carried out within the resource envelope allocated to Defence.
PDF Strength by rank as at 31 December 2013 versus PDF Rank Establishment of 9,500
|
- |
9,500 Rank Establishment |
Strength at 31 December 2013 |
Vacancies by Rank |
|
Lieutenant General |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Major General |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
Brigadier General |
8 |
8 |
0 |
|
Colonel |
41 |
37 |
4* |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
137 |
135 |
2 |
|
Commandant |
336 |
327 |
9 |
|
Captain |
452 |
368 |
84 |
|
Lieutenant |
256 |
336 |
minus 80 |
|
Sergeant Major |
43 |
43 |
0 |
|
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant |
44 |
44 |
0 |
|
Company Sergeant |
245 |
227 |
18 |
|
Company Quartermaster Sergeant |
199 |
193 |
6 |
|
Sergeant |
1,330 |
1,193 |
137 |
|
Corporal |
1,800 |
1,646 |
154 |
|
Private (including 73 Cadets) |
4,606 |
4,676 |
minus 70 |
|
Total |
9,500 |
9,236 |
264 |
*Within the establishment figures there is provision for 10 Colonel positions overseas, however, at end of December only 9 of these were filled with no requirement to fill the remaining position. There are an additional 82 personnel on Career Breaks or seconded who are not included in the strengths in the table.
Note: Equivalent Naval Service Ranks
Brigadier General/Commodore
Colonel/Captain
Lieutenant Colonel/Commander
Commandant/Lieutenant Commander
Captain/Lieutenant (NS)
Lieutenant/Sub-Lieutenant Sergeant Mayor/Warrant Officer
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant/Senior Chief Petty Officer
Company Quartermaster Sergeant/Senior Petty Officer
Company Sergeant/Chief Petty Officer
Sergeant/Petty Officer
Corporal/Leading Seaman
Private/Able Seaman.
