Defence Forces Recruitment

Tuesday, 1 December 2020

Questions (346)

Duncan Smith

Question:

346. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the number of applications and number commissioned under the Naval Service direct entry scheme for each year from 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40292/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Defence

It has not been possible to respond to this question in the turnaround time for PQs. The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to the above-referenced Parliamentary Question and my original reply stating that it was not possible to provide the required information within the turnaround time provided for PQs. I am now in a position to do so. The table below outlines the number of applications and inductions under the Naval Service direct entry schemes, by Officer and Other Ranks, for each year from 2017 to 2019 and to 1st December 2020: -

Naval Service	2017	2018	2019	2020*
Officer- Applications	95	69	82	68
Officer - Inductions	11	2	2	1
Other Ranks - Applications	0	0	41	211
Other Ranks - Inductions	0	0	2	3
Total Applications	95	69	123	279
Total Inductions	11	2	4	4

*As at 1st December 2020

Many Defence Force specialities are developed in-house but in some cases this can have a long lead-in time of up to 5 years. Opportunities to fill vacancies in a speedier fashion have been explored and, in the past few years, the scope for Direct Entry has expanded as a means of filling specialist posts. In 2020 there were 8 Direct Entry Naval Service competitions, namely:

-Bridge Watch Keeping Officers

-Marine Engineering Officers

-Electrical Engineer Officers

-Engine Room Artificer

-Electrical Artificer

-Hull Artificer

-Chef

-Radio/Radar Technician

I have previously acknowledged that there are recruitment and retention issues within the Naval Service and, in this context a number of additional measures have been introduced including an increased tax credit for sea-going Naval Service personnel and a sea-going service commitment scheme.

In addition, the independent Commission on the Defence Forces is tasked with examining a range of issues, including recruitment and retention. There is also a commitment to establish a pay review body for the Defence Forces when the Commission has completed its work.