Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2016
689. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the total strength of the Defence Forces including reserves, Army, Naval Services and Air Corps; the number of women in each branch of the services; the likelihood of recruitment or replacements following retirements now and over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40148/16]
View answer691. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which membership of the local Defence Forces continues to be maintained at a required level; the extent to which ongoing training standards and requirements are met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40150/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 689 and 691 together.
The following tabular statement sets out the total strength of the Defence Forces, as of 31st October 2016, the latest date for which figures are available, broken down by service (Army, Naval Service and Air Corps) and including the Reserve with the associated numbers of female personnel in each as requested by the Deputy.
|
- |
Reserve |
Army |
Naval Service |
Air Corps |
|
Total |
2,092 |
7,331 |
1,066 |
713 |
|
No. of Females |
281 |
471 |
60 |
33 |
It should be noted that figures for the Reserve (above) are for effective members, while figures for the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps are for Whole Time Equivalent positions.
The 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 as stated in the 2015 White Paper on Defence. As of the 31st October 2016, the strength of the PDF (whole-time equivalent) was 9,110 personnel and the total effective strength of the Reserve was 2,092.
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. The significant turnover of personnel that is the norm in military services requires targeted recruitment so as to maintain personnel numbers at or near the agreed strength levels. It is envisaged that there will be a total intake of circa 700 inductees to the Defence Forces, consisting of General Service recruits and Cadets, in 2016.
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. To that end, it is envisaged that momentum will be maintained to encourage new entrants with the anticipated launch in early 2017 of a series of Defence Forces recruitment competitions.
In terms of ongoing training standards for the Reserve, the 2015 White Paper on Defence sets out a developmental path for the organisation. On a day to day basis, the Reserve undertakes training in preparation to assist the PDF, when required. Training across all three arms of the Defence Forces is constantly benchmarked against best military and academic practice. Training procedures are constantly reviewed in order to ensure that the men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann are fully prepared to meet the challenges of the ever changing security environment.
With regard to RDF training, a key recommendation of the Value for Money Review of the RDF, published in November 2012, was to ensure that all effective members of the Reserve were afforded the opportunity to undertake annual training. In 2015, a total of 1,475 Reservists utilised 22,548 mandays in pursuit of professional development through career courses at all levels, including recruit training, skills courses, continuous professional development seminars and participation in integrated exercises. In 2016, Subhead A.5 provided for a budget of €2.150m of which €2.068m provides for a total of 30,000 Paid Training Mandays for members of the Reserve. This provision is sufficient having regard to the existing strength of the RDF and the voluntary nature of Reserve training.
A key challenge is to recruit and train sufficient personnel to meet the Reserve establishment provided for in the White Paper. Recruitment to the Reserve remains ongoing. I am committed to accelerating induction into the Reserve, in tandem with expanded recruitment into the PDF.
