Air Corps

Tuesday, 5 October 2021

Questions (369)

John Brady

Question:

369. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the current total strength of Air Corps personnel; and the number of qualified military pilots, cadet pilots in training, qualified military aircraft maintenance technicians, qualified military avionics technicians and military apprentices in training of both disciplines. [48259/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Defence

I am advised by the military authorities that it has not been possible to gather the required information within the time allotted. I will revert to the Deputy when the information has been gathered.

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 timeframe available. I am now in a position to do so.

The military authorities have advised that, on the 4th October 2021, the strength of the Air Corps was 749 wholetime equivalent personnel. The table below shows the requested breakdown of personnel, on the same date:

Personnel Stream	Strength
Qualified pilots	90
Cadets currently completing military training*	14
Young officers in pilot training	16
Qualified aircraft maintenance technicians	135
Qualified avionics technicians	34
Apprentices**	69

Cadets are scheduled to commence their Pilot Wings course once they graduate as Officers.

Of the 69 apprentices, 25 are undergoing basic military training along with 3 Direct Entry Aircraft Technicians. The remaining 44 apprentices are undergoing their qualification process and will be streamed into Rotary, Fixed Wing or avionics technician categories during that process.