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Defence Forces Strength

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2015

Thursday, 16 July 2015

Questions (342)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

342. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the most up to date figures for the strength of the Permanent Defence Force with regard to all three services and all ranks; the gender break-down of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29876/15]

View answer

Written answers

The following tables set out the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 30th June, 2015, the latest date for which figures are available, across all three services and ranks, broken down by gender. The figures provided are for whole time equivalent posts.

Rank

Male

Female

Total

Lieutenant General

1

0

1

Major General

2

0

2

Brigadier General

4

0

4

Colonel

33

0

33

Lieutenant Colonel

100

3

103

Commandant

233

25

258

Captain

228

42

270

Lieutenant

173

35

208

Sergeant Major

29

0

29

Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant

32

0

32

Company Sergeant

104

1

105

Company Quartermaster Sergeant

161

2

163

Sergeant

868

57

925

Corporal

1,205

114

1,319

Private

3,618

174

3,972

Cadets

15

4

19

Total

6,806

457

7,263

Air Corps

Rank

Male

Female

Total

Brigadier General

1

0

1

Colonel

2

0

2

Lieutenant Colonel

10

0

10

Commandant

30

1

31

Captain

51

5

56

Lieutenant

24

1

25

Sergeant Major

7

1

8

Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant

4

0

4

Company Sergeant

53

0

53

Company Quartermaster Sergeant

14

0

14

Sergeant

117

6

123

Corporal

136

8

144

Private

233

9

242

Cadets

18

0

18

Total

700

31

731

Naval Service

Rank

Male

Female

Total

Brigadier General

1

0

1

Colonel

2

0

2

Lieutenant Colonel

13

0

13

Commandant

43

5

48

Captain

39

17

56

Lieutenant

27

4

31

Sergeant Major

6

0

6

Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant

7

0

7

Company Sergeant

74

0

74

Company Quartermaster Sergeant

9

0

9

Sergeant

195

6

201

Corporal

135

8

143

Private

413

18

431

Cadets

9

1

10

Total

973

59

1,032

The total serving strength across all three services as of 30 June 2015 was 9,026. The overall establishment figure set for the Defence Forces is 9,500 and it is the Government’s intention that ongoing recruitment campaigns will strive to maintain the serving strength at or close to this figure.

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