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Defence Forces

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022

Tuesday, 22 March 2022

Questions (447, 448, 451, 452, 453)

John Brady

Question:

447. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the maximum and the current strength levels of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14072/22]

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John Brady

Question:

448. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the maximum and the current strength levels of the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14073/22]

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John Brady

Question:

451. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the number of women in the Defence Forces by rank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14076/22]

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John Brady

Question:

452. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the number of women in the Defence Forces that are currently serving overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14077/22]

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John Brady

Question:

453. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the number of women members of the Defence Forces that have left to date in 2022, by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14078/22]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 447, 448, 451, 452 and 453 together.

As at 28 February, 2022, there were 576 Permanent Defence Force (PDF) personnel serving overseas, of which 37 were female.

On the same date, the strength of the

- PDF was 8,398 personnel (establishment strength 9,500)

- Army was 6,788  personnel (establishment strength 7,520)

- Air Corps was 743 personnel (establishment strength 886)

- Naval Service was 867 personnel (establishment strength 1,094)

Of the 8,398 PDF personnel, 595 were female. The requested breakdown of this female strength, by rank, is as follows: 

 OFFICER

 LT   GEN

 MAJ   GEN

 BRIG   GEN

 COL

 LT   COL

 COMDT

 CAPT

 LT

 

 0

 0

 1

 1

 2

 62

 50

 49

 OTHER   RANKS

 SM

 BQMS

 CS

 CQMS

 SGT

 CPL

 PTE

 CADET

 

 0

 0

 5

 9

 67

 104

 236

 9

2 women were discharged in January 2022 and 6 in February.  Typically, discharges include personnel who left for a variety of reasons including on age grounds, at end of contract and voluntary discharges and would also include any trainees who exited prior to completion of their initial training. 

The Government remains committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and a number of initiatives have been implemented to increase the level of female participation. In addition, in the context of the White Paper on Defence, a specific project examining barriers to the progression of women in the PDF is ongoing.

Furthermore, the work of the Commission on the Defence Forces included, inter alia, consideration of gender, recruitment and retention matters.  The Commission’s report was published on 9 February 2022. The next stage in the process will involve careful consideration of the recommendations and in-depth discussion and inter-departmental consultation. Once all recommendations have been carefully considered and an approach discussed, I intend to bring a proposed response to the report’s recommendations and a high-level action plan to the government for consideration.

Question No. 448 answered with Question No. 447.
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