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Defence Forces Strength

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014

Tuesday, 25 March 2014

Questions (838)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

838. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide up-to-date figures for the strength of the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force with regard to all three services; if he will provide the gender breakdown of same according to rank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13152/14]

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Written answers

The strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 31 January 2014, the latest date for which figures are available, was 9,198, broken down into 7,403 Army, 775 Air Corps and 1,020 Naval Service. 556 (or 6.05%) are women. The tables contain the above mentioned strength, broken down into Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by gender and rank groupings.

The Reserve Defence Force is currently undergoing a period of reform and reorganisation following publication of the Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force in November, 2012. Information in relation to the numbers of effective members of the Reserve Defence Force are currently being compiled following its reorganisation. While this process is ongoing as records from units are updated and reconciled on the personnel management system, it is not possible to provide an up-to-date fully accurate figure for the current strength. The best estimate based on the returns reconciled to date is that the effective strength of the Reserve is in the order of about 2,500.

Army (PDF)

Rank

Male

Female

Total

Lt Gen

1

1

Maj Gen

2

2

Brig Gen

6

6

Col

34

34

Lt Col

105

3

108

Comdt

223

26

249

Captain

226

35

261

LT

238

40

278

SM

29

29

BQMS

33

33

CS

108

1

109

CQMS

163

1

164

Sgt

844

49

893

Cpl

1,192

116

1,308

Pte

3,724

184

3,908

Cadets

17

3

20

Total

6,945

458

7,403

Air Corps (PDF)

Rank

Male

Female

Total

Lt Gen

Maj Gen

Brig Gen

1

1

Col

2

2

Lt Col

14

14

Comdt

32

32

Captain

48

5

53

LT

30

2

32

SM

7

1

8

BQMS

4

4

CS

48

48

CQMS

13

13

Sgt

119

6

125

Cpl

148

11

159

Pte

257

10

267

Cadets

17

17

Total

740

35

775

Naval Service (PDF)

Rank

Male

Female

Total

Lt Gen

Maj Gen

Brig Gen

1

1

Col

1

1

Lt Col

13

13

Comdt

39

6

45

Captain

42

10

52

LT

35

12

47

SM

6

6

BQMS

7

7

CS

68

68

CQMS

15

15

Sgt

166

2

168

Cpl

162

12

174

Pte

387

21

408

Cadets

15

15

Total

957

63

1,020

Question No. 839 answered with Question No. 139.
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