Defence Forces Strength

Thursday, 17 July 2014

Questions (523)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

523. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the up-to-date figures for the strength of the Permanent Defence Force with regard to all three services and all ranks; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32382/14]

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Written answers

Minister for Defence

The strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) at 30 June 2014, the latest date for which figures are available, was 9,058, broken down into 7,300 Army, 759 Air Corps and 999 Naval Service. 556 (or 6.14%) are women. The attached tables contain the above mentioned strength, broken down into Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by gender and rank groupings. It is the intention to recruit up to 400 personnel in the latter half of 2014.

Army (PDF)

Rank	Male	Female	Total
Lt Gen	1		1
Maj Gen	2		2
Brig Gen	5		5
Col	35		35
Lt Col	103	3	106
Comdt	216	25	241
Captain	257	43	300
LT	192	36	228
SM	28		28
BQMS	33		33
CS	109	1	110
CQMS	166	1	167
Sgt	837	54	891
Cpl	1,228	114	1,342
Pte	3,611	180	3,791
Cadets	17	3	20
Total	6,840	460	7,300

Air Corps (PDF)

Rank	Male	Female	Total
Lt Gen
Maj Gen
Brig Gen	1		1
Col	2		2
Lt Col	14		14
Comdt	30		30
Captain	46	6	52
LT	29	1	30
SM	7	1	8
BQMS	4		4
CS	49		49
CQMS	14		14
Sgt	119	6	125
Cpl	145	12	157
Pte	250	9	259
Cadets	14		14
Total	724	35	759

Naval Service (PDF)

Rank	Male	Female	Total
Lt Gen
Maj Gen
Brig Gen	1		1
Col	2		2
Lt Col	13		13
Comdt	39	6	45
Captain	39	10	49
LT	32	12	44
SM	6		6
BQMS	7		7
CS	66		66
CQMS	15		15
Sgt	170	3	173
Cpl	162	11	173
Pte	371	19	390
Cadets	15		15
Total	938	61	999