Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 February 2014
22. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Defence the number of positions that will be available for application when the new recruitment campaign begins in March 2014; and if he will provide details of the positions. [5621/14]
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 details are available, was 9,236, comprising, 7,434 Army, 779 Air Corps and, 1,023 Naval Service personnel. Recruitment of personnel to the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps is determined in line with the operational requirements of each of the three services. As the Permanent Defence Force is currently below the agreed stabilised strength of 9,500, it is my intention that targeted recruitment will continue this year within the resource envelope allocated to Defence. To that end, it is planned to run a new General Service recruitment competition commencing in March 2014. Recruitment of Air Corps Apprentices and Naval Service Engine Room Artificers is also planned for 2014.
Recruitment competitions are a significant undertaking involving online assessments, fitness tests, interviews and medicals. Detailed planning for the running of the competitions is currently ongoing. Once this process is completed, the numbers inducted will depend on available training capacity, resources and the then number of vacancies. As such, it is not possible to state the exact numbers that may be recruited this year. However, within the resources and capacity available, it is my intention to maintain the Defence Forces at the agreed stabilised strength. Details of these new competitions will be made available on the Defence Forces website www.military.ie when the competitions commence.
As regards the Reserve Defence Force, work is continuing on the implementation of the re-organisation and the development of the single force concept and a review of the number of active members of the RDF is currently being compiled. In addition, the criteria for participation in the RDF are being reviewed and updated and a recruitment plan is being developed. With the support of the Chief of Staff and within the resources available, I intend to retain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks laid down by Government both at home and overseas.
