Brendan Smith
Question:7. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence when he expects the numbers in the Defence Forces to reach the approved threshold of 9,500; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24899/21]
View answerThursday, 13 May 2021
Questions (7, 17)
Dara Calleary
Question:17. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence the number of new recruits that have enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24901/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 17 together.
The military authorities have advised that, as at 31st March 2021, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, was 8,524 personnel. The Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining the agreed strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel as set out in the White Paper on Defence (2015). There are a number of factors, many of which are hard to predict, which will impact on the timeframe within which this will be achieved.
I have acknowledged that there are on-going difficulties in the Defence Forces, and these have been well-documented in the Air Corps and Naval Service. A sea-going service commitment scheme and a tax credit, both for sea-going Naval Service personnel, are examples of targeted measures I have introduced. These are aimed at retaining experienced personnel. This follows the reintroduction of a successful service commitment scheme for Flying Officers in the Air Corps.
Recruitment is ongoing and has resulted in 149 personnel being inducted as at 30 April 2021 and further inductions are planned. General Service recruitment continues and the Cadet competition was launched recently. The Air Corps Apprentice competition, closed in March 2021, attracted 663 applications and these are currently being processed.
Further initiatives, that also play a role in restoring capacity and in boosting specialist’s numbers, include:
The campaign to re-enlist and re-commission former members of the Permanent Defence Force. This campaign has resulted in 15 re-commissioning officers and 42 re-enlisting personnel being inducted in 2020 and 1 officer and 14 re-enlisting personnel being inducted in 2021 as at 30th April.
Along with direct entry provision for Doctors, direct entry is also currently utilised in the Naval Service for the recruitment of specialists with further competitions being progressed. For these Naval Service specialties, sanction has been received to provide for direct entry at a higher point on the salary scale where previous earnings indicate earnings in excess of the first point on the scale.
A key measure to address recruitment and retention challenges is the implementation of the report of the Public Service Pay Commission. This report contained a range of pay and non-pay measures. Some recommendations were applied immediately while others were progressed through a series of projects, most of which are implemented and the others are nearing finalisation. The Defence Forces have also benefited from pay increases under successive Public Sector Pay Agreements. Other measures are being considered in the context of the new public sector pay agreement.
A Commission on the Defence Forces has also been tasked with examining a range of issues and this work is underway. On completion of the work of the Commission, I will consult with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the establishment of a permanent pay review body for the PDF, reflecting the unique nature of military service in the context of the public service.
Increasing the capacity of the Defence Forces will take time. However, I can assure the Deputy that the challenges are being addressed and work in this regard is a priority for civil and military management and myself.
Questions Nos. 8 to 13, inclusive, answered orally.