Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014
822. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which he expects the next recruitment campaign to augment numbers in the Defence Forces at all levels in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13372/14]
View answer826. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which any particular emphasis might be placed on encouraging the young unemployed to join the Defence Forces in the context of the forthcoming recruitment campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13376/14]
View answer830. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of the new recruitment campaign for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12946/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 822, 826 and 830 together.
I announced the launch of a new recruitment campaign for Enlisted Personnel in both the Permanent and the Reserve Defence Force on Friday, 7 March 2014. The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel and this current campaign will enable this to be achieved.
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. The Defence Forces plan to induct up to 400 personnel to the Permanent Defence Force (both Army and Navy) and up to 500 personnel to the Reserve Defence Force (both Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve) in 2014. This will be the first intake of recruits to the Reserve following on from the reorganisation of the Permanent and Reserve Defence Force in line with the ‘Single Force Concept’ whereby Reserve Units are embedded into Permanent Defence Force Formations.
This new recruitment campaign is designed to attract enthusiastic and committed men and women from all backgrounds and ethnicities to a career in the Defence Forces. With the changes in the make-up of Ireland’s population, it is important that we raise awareness and attract recruits from all backgrounds, including the new Irish, so that our Defence Forces, Permanent and Reserve, reflect the society that they serve. As part of the recruitment campaign the Defence Forces are contacting various groups representative of the different ethnic groups in the State. There is also extensive engagement with schools, colleges and sports clubs and organisations. The Defence Forces are particularly interested in attracting applications from women. The Defence Forces is committed to full equality among all its personnel irrespective of gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation.
The recruitment competition for both the Permanent and Reserve Defence Force is being run through a centralised online application system on the Defence Forces website www.military.ie. All correspondence is conducted via e-mail. Details of the competitions, the closing date for which is 9 April 2014, are available on the website.
While no specific measures are being taken to encourage the young unemployed to join the Defence Forces, the Recruitment competition has been widely advertised in the National and Regional Press and Media and is also on “Careers Portal”, a National career guidance website. Information on service in the Defence Forces is also available through the Defence Forces social media platforms, on Twitter and Facebook.
Applicants for recruitment to both the Permanent and Reserve Defence Force will be required to complete broadly similar assessments. Candidates for recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force must successfully complete fitness testing, online psychometric testing, interview and psychometric testing verification, in order to progress through the competition. Following these stages of the recruitment process, successful applicants may be placed on panels and may be offered a position, subject to successfully completing a medical examination and obtaining Garda Síochána Security Clearance. Candidates for recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force follow a similar process, but do not undergo psychometric testing.
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.
