Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020
378. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Defence the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 31 August 2020; the ranks across the three services and the gender breakdown of same in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23328/20]
View answer380. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Defence the number of additional recruits to the Permanent Defence Force to date in 2020 with regard to all three services; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23330/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 378 and 380 together.
The table below shows the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) as at 31st July 2020, the latest date for which such data is available, broken down by rank, service and gender.
To date 147 personnel (9 female) were inducted into the Permanent Defence Force in 2020 which includes 10 (0 Female) re-enlisted personnel.
Of those inducted, 130 were General Service Recruits and the table below provides the requested breakdown of these Recruits.
|
- |
Total |
Male |
Female |
|
Army |
100 |
94 |
6 |
|
Navy |
30 |
27 |
3 |
|
Total |
130 |
121 |
9 |
Further inductions will take place in the coming months.
The Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining the agreed strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel and, while the capacity of the Defence Forces to induct and train recruits in 2020 was severely impacted by the COVID-19 situation, recruitment and inductions have resumed taking public health guidelines into account. A campaign to re-enlist former members of the Permanent Defence Force, to fill certain vacancies, is also underway.
The report of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) of 2019 contains a range of recommendations aimed at improving recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces. A High Level Plan to give effect to the recommendations of the PSPC is currently being implemented.
The Programme for Government contains a range of commitments aimed at stabilising and restoring the strength of the Defence Forces. A Commission on the Defence Forces will be established and it is intended that on completion of the Commission's work, a permanent pay review body for the Defence Forces will be established.
