Terence Flanagan
Question:7. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Defence the plans for new recruitment for the Defence Forces for the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43238/14]
View answerThursday, 13 November 2014
Questions (7)
Oral answers (6 contributions)
I ask the Minister for a breakdown of his plans for new recruitment in the Defence Forces, including the Permanent Defence Force, Reserve Defence Force, Air Corps and Naval Service. Are there any plans for new apprentices and agency staff? Can he also comment on revising the 21-year limit for members of the Defence Forces who are willing and able to continue in service?
I thank the Deputy for his question. The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 people, comprising 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service personnel. I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 30 September 2014, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,200 comprising 7,413 Army, 757 Air Corps and 1,030 Naval Service personnel. The personnel requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services. As there is significant turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force, targeted recruitment has been and is taking place so as to maintain the agreed strength levels.
General service recruitment will continue in 2015 from the recruitment panels formed from the current general service recruitment competition launched in March 2014. Some 441 recruits have been enlisted to the Army and Naval Service to date, of which 385 remain in training.
The intake of cadets into the Permanent Defence Force is normally carried out on an annual basis taking into consideration the operational requirements of the Defence Forces and the resource envelope allocated to the Department of Defence. It is too early to say what the requirement for an intake of cadets in 2015 may be.
Direct entry competitions are held as required from which specialist appointments are filled. A competition for the recruitment of five engine room personnel for the Naval Service is currently under way, with a closing date of 14 November 2014. A competition for the appointment of doctors remains open with applications being accepted on an ongoing basis.
A Reserve Defence Force, RDF, competition was also launched in March 2014. As a continuation of this campaign, the Defence Forces are currently accepting applications for the RDF until 14 November 2014. Future recruitment into the RDF will be informed by RDF strength figures.
With the support of the Chief of Staff and within the resources available, it is intended 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. On the 21-year rule, I would refer the Deputy to a very long and detailed answer I gave on that issue earlier.
I thank the Minister for his response. Is he satisfied with the level of training new recruits will receive and the level of ongoing training for current members of the Defence Forces? Does he believe the Defence Forces are adequately equipped? In the context of the inspectorate's review of the Garda, how would the Defence Forces stand up if the spotlight was shone on the situation that prevails at present?
With regard to pay, Deputy Daly noted that changes to allowances have resulted in Defence Forces pay reducing by 20% since 2009. Is the Minister happy the pay levels are sufficient to encourage new recruits to enter the Defence Forces?
There is certainly strong demand for the recruitment calls that are under way at present. In fact, I have received letters from various Deputies making cases for people who have applied and so on. There seems to be strong demand for that, despite the fact there are issues in need of review in regard to remuneration and pay.
In terms of equipment, I am satisfied we have adequate and appropriate levels of equipment and we are investing in new equipment all the time. As the Deputy will know, for example, the big expenditure in the Naval Service has been on new ships, which means there will be three new ships in three years. I cannot ever remember a time when that has happened before, and it is happening at a time when the Government is under a lot of financial pressure. We have already seen the LE Samuel Beckett, next year we will see the LE James Joyce and we will see a third ship 12 months later. Likewise, there are investment programmes for the Army and Air Corps. I am satisfied that we are investing in the Defence Forces.
With regard to the overall situation, as it happens, the Defence Forces have been looking at themselves. We have had an outside person who is eminently qualified looking at issues like morale, bullying and reporting channels and support systems for personnel within the Defence Forces.
I welcome the Minister's statement. When will that report be completed and published? I ask him to provide more detail on the extra investment in the Army and Air Corps. I accept investment has taken place in the Naval Service.
That report has been published. I launched it in Collins Barracks some two months ago. The author was there and talked about her experience of literally being immersed in the Defence Forces and all of its complexity, and so on. It was the third such report published by the same team as part of the attempt to modernise and put new structures within the Defence Forces.
We see on the front of The Irish Examiner today, unfortunately, a case of totally unacceptable behaviour within the Defence Forces which is currently being investigated by military police. That should not be happening within the Defence Forces and we will deal with it.
In terms of the broader look at the Defence Forces, I want to reassure the House there is a very critical look in the mirror to make sure we are doing everything that is appropriate in terms of a modern, well equipped, well trained and motivated Defence Forces. If mistakes are being made, we will address them in an open way.