Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 November 2021
331. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Defence the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 31 October 2021 or the latest date available; if he will provide a breakdown of all ranks across the three services and the gender breakdown of same in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56133/21]
View answerI am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, as at 31 October 2021 is 8,572 whole-time equivalent personnel. The attached table shows the requested breakdown by rank, service, and gender.
The current staffing issues within the Defence Forces have been acknowledged and 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).
A range of actions have been taken to address these issues which includes the projects undertaken to facilitate the implementation of the PSPC Report on Recruitment and Retention, most of which have been completed or are being considered in the context of wider public sector pay arrangements. Other measures include Service Commitment Schemes in the Air Corps, and the Naval Service in which additionally a sea-going naval personnel tax credit introduced in 2020, will be further extended into 2022.
Recruitment initiatives have been, and continue to be, undertaken and recruitment in 2021 has resulted in 577 inductions to date in 2021. The independent Commission on the Defence Forces is also examining a range of recruitment and retention matters and I look forward to receiving their recommendations.
am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, as at 31 October 2021 is 8,572 whole-time equivalent personnel. The attached table shows the requested breakdown by rank, service, and gender.
The current staffing issues within the Defence Forces have been acknowledged and 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).
A range of actions have been taken to address these issues which includes the projects undertaken to facilitate the implementation of the PSPC Report on Recruitment and Retention, most of which have been completed or are being considered in the context of wider public sector pay arrangements. Other measures include Service Commitment Schemes in the Air Corps, and the Naval Service in which additionally a sea-going naval personnel tax credit introduced in 2020, will be further extended into 2022.
Recruitment initiatives have been, and continue to be, undertaken and recruitment in 2021 has resulted in 577 inductions to date in 2021. The independent Commission on the Defence Forces is also examining a range of recruitment and retention matters and I look forward to receiving their recommendations.
