Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2016
33. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps he will take to address the attrition rate and identify the cause of premature departures and the loss of highly trained and skilled persons from the Defence Forces; and his plans to encourage and support the retention of persons. [16902/16]
View answerAs I have already advised the Deputy in my reply to her ealier question today, there are a number of initiatives in place that address recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces.
I wish to reaffirm to the Deputy that the Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising 7,519 Army, 887 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service as provided for in the current C.S.4 regulations.
The manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services. Personnel are posted on the basis of operational needs across the organisation both at home and abroad. As there is significant turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force targeted recruitment takes place so as to maintain personnel numbers at or near the agreed strength levels.
I am satisfied that the operational capacity of the Defence Forces is being maintained. With the support of the Chief of Staff, I am confident that we shall retain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks assigned by Government, both at home and overseas.
