Defence Forces

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 January 2022

Thursday, 27 January 2022

Questions (133, 134, 136, 142)

Dara Calleary

Question:

133. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence the action that is being taken to improve recruitment and retention of staff in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3796/22]

Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

134. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the plans that are in place to strengthen the Naval Service in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3821/22]

Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

136. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence when the Naval Service will reach its approved establishment strength; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3820/22]

Kieran O'Donnell

Question:

142. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the work to improve recruitment and retention of personnel in the Defence Forces with a focus on presenting the option of a career in the Defence Forces to school leavers. [3917/22]

Written answers

Minister for Defence (Deputy Simon Coveney)

As at 31 December 2021, the strength of the PDF was 8,468 whole time equivalent personnel comprised of 6,841 Army, 876 Naval Service and 751 Air Corps. There is an establishment of 9,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force, 7,520 for the Army, 1,094 for the Naval Service, and 996 for the Air Corps.

While the Government remains committed to returning to and maintaining the agreed strength of the Permanent Defence Force across all three services at 9,500 personnel, there are a number of factors, some of which are hard to predict, that will impact on the timeframe within which this will be achieved. The on-going staffing challenges in the Defence Forces have been acknowledged and a range of measures have been taken to tackle them.

There is ongoing recruitment, which has resulted in 576 personnel being inducted in 2021. I launched a recruitment campaign specifically targeting potential Naval Service recruits in June 2021. 78 Naval Service personnel were inducted in 2021 comprised of 65 recruits, 8 cadets, 3 Direct Entry specialists and 2 re-joining enlisted personnel.

The 2022 Recruitment Plan is not yet finalised. However the Defence Forces remain committed to optimising the number of personnel inducted in 2022 and target General Service Recruits, Cadets, Air Corps Apprentice Aircraft Technicians and specialists for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service. The Defence Forces are actively engaged in providing career talks within schools and participate in relevant events such as career guidance counsellor conferences and transition year events.

The scope of direct entry competitions, along with their terms and conditions, continue to be expanded and revised to improve intakes, and the re-entry campaign for former members of the PDF continues.

In relation to retention, there has been significant progress on pay arising out of increases due from recent pay agreements, the most recent of which was a 1% increase on annualised salaries or €500, whichever was greater, on the 1st October 2021, with further increases to follow. There are now Service Commitment schemes active in both the Air Corps and the Naval Service, and a special Naval Service tax credit for sea-going personnel remains available in 2022.

In addition. in light of the particular challenges faced by the Defence Sector, the Government tasked the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) to undertake a comprehensive review and analysis of underlying difficulties in recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces. The reommendations of this report have been progressed through a series of speciifc projects.

I am confident that the pay benefits delivered by the Public Service pay agreements, in tandem with the implementation of the PSPC's recommendations will improve recruitment and retention challenges currently being experienced by the PDF.

Additionally, the Commission on the Defence Forces are finalising their work with a view to completing the report as soon as possible. The Commission's Report, when submitted, will be fully considered at that point and will inform future decisions regarding the Defence Forces.

My focus remains on retaining and restoring the Permanent Defence Forces to its full capacity.

Question No. 134 answered with Question No. 133.