Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 November 2018
68. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to deal with issues of recruitment and retention across the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48409/18]
View answer71. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps being taken to address the retention crisis in the Defence Forces; when the target staffing level of the Defence Forces will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47797/18]
View answer82. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the measures he has brought forward in 2018 to encourage the retention of Defence Forces personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48385/18]
View answerI have noted the number of young people who have entered the Visitors Gallery to listen to the debate. Listening to the Minister of State, I wonder how many of them will be future members of the Air Corps, the Naval Service or the Army. If they knew what were the conditions and pay of soldiers and members of the Naval Service and the Air Corps, work they would think twice or three times about it? We have asked this question already. Will the Minister of State, please, outline the measures he intends to take to address the recruitment crisis in the Defence Forces because its root is the pay and conditions of and low morale among their members?
I propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 71 and 82 together.
As in other military organisations, turnover in the Defence Forces is higher than that which normally prevails in other sectors. In that context, there is ongoing recruitment to replace personnel who depart. Recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force has continued throughout 2018. It encompassed two general service recruitment competitions, a cadet competition, an apprentice competition, an instrumentalist competition and direct entry streams. They have resulted in over 600 personnel being inducted to date. The most recent figures provided by the military authorities give the whole-time equivalent strength of the Permanent Defence Force as being just below 9,000 personnel. Final figures for the numbers inducted in 2018 and strength will not be available until year end. Progress in recruitment will be reviewed in the coming weeks and inform future plans.
There are challenges in recruiting and retaining certain specialists such as pilots, air traffic controllers and certain technicians. These specialists can prove difficult to retain where, as in the current economic environment and jobs market, there are demands for such specialists in other sectors. It is a challenge being faced by military forces elsewhere and is not confined to Ireland. A range of alternative recruitment approaches are being developed, aimed at addressing vacancies in specialist areas. My Department has introduced a scheme which permits former officers with specialist skills to re-enter the Permanent Defence Force and arrangements are in train to provide a similar scheme for former enlisted personnel. There is direct entry provision for those with professional qualifications which is utilised in the recruitment of medical officers and engineers. A working group is examining the scope for greater use of such direct entry recruitment to fill certain specialist positions.
The Public Service Pay Commission has been tasked with examining recruitment and retention issues in the defence sector. An initial tranche of material related to Air Corps pilots was submitted earlier this year. Further material related to the broader defence sector has been sent to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform which is co-ordinating the response on behalf of the Public Service Pay Commission. When the Public Service Pay Commission reports, its findings will be considered.
Ensuring that the terms and conditions of serving members of the Permanent Defence Force are fair and balanced is also a key consideration. A range of actions outlined in the 2015 White Paper on Defence are aimed at advancing this goal. The criteria for extending service beyond 12 years have been revised and an examination of retirement ages for enlisted personnel has been prioritised. A gap analysis of skill sets in the Permanent Defence Force has also been brought forward. In addition, the military authorities have introduced further initiatives to enhance work-life balance, which is to be welcomed.
The Government is committed to retaining the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles assigned by it Government and to the White Paper strength target of 9,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force. There are a number of factors, some of which are difficult to predict, that will impact on the timeframe within which this will be achieved.
That concludes questions to the Minister for Defence. I thank everyone who participated.
