The table below contains details of the strength and pay bill of the Permanent Defence Force from 2013 to 31st December 2020, the latest date for which such information is available:
Year
|
PDF Strength (wte)
|
PDF Pay €m
|
2013
|
9,236
|
413,394
|
2014
|
9,280
|
395,573
|
2015
|
9,140
|
389,935
|
2016
|
9,126
|
385,504
|
2017
|
9,173
|
396,479
|
2018
|
8,957
|
398,714
|
2019
|
8,659
|
418,650
|
2020
|
8,572
|
*405,406
|
*Based on provisional data at year end
Information on comparisons between expenditure on Defence Forces pay, relative to the wider Public Service, is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
The Government remains committed to restoring the strength of the Permanent Defence Force to 9,500 personnel and the Defence Budget provides funding for this full establishment strength.