Paul McAuliffe
Question:23. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Defence his plans to recruit and improve retention within the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24890/21]
View answerThursday, 13 May 2021
Questions (23, 57)
Gary Gannon
Question:57. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Defence the measures his Department plans to take to address the shortage of Naval Service staff. [25146/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 57 together.
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).
I have acknowledged in the past that there are on-going difficulties in the Defence Forces, and these have been well-documented. The sea-going service commitment scheme and an extension of a tax credit, both for sea-going Naval Service personnel, are examples of targeted measures I have introduced which 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 re-commissioning 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.
There has been significant progress on pay within the Defence Forces arising from the Public Service Pay Commission recommendations and increases from recent pay agreements. A new pay agreement provides an opportunity for further increases, should it be accepted by the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations.
A Commission on the Defence Forces has also been established to examine a range of matters relating to the Defence Forces and are consulting widely. I look forward to receiving their recommendations in due course.