Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2015
311. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Defence his plans for recruitment to the Navy in 2015; the numbers on any recruitment panels at present; if he expects this panel to be exhausted this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2827/15]
View answerThe Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service.
Targeted recruitment has taken place so as to maintain the level of 9,500 personnel and to ensure the operational capacity of the Defence Forces. As the Permanent Defence Force is currently below the agreed stabilised strength of 9,500, it is intended that targeted recruitment will continue within the resource envelope allocated to Defence.
I can confirm that there is an existing panel in place for the Naval Service which will be used to fill vacancies during 2015. Recruitment of personnel to the Naval Service is determined in line with the operational requirements of the service. It is too early to say when a new General Service Recruitment campaign specifically for the Naval Service will take place. When a new Naval Service recruitment campaign is launched, details will be made available on the Defence Forces website www.military.ie.
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.
