Patrick Costello
Question:
169. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for a breakdown of the numbers of people joining and leaving the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps, by month, over the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32152/23]
View answer
I am informed by the military authorities that it was not possible to collate the required information within the timeframe available. I shall provide the information to the Deputy once it becomes available.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.
The military authorities have provided the information in the attached table detailing the numbers of people inducted and discharged from the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps, by month, over the past five years and in 2023 as at 30 June. The term 'discharges' encompasses personnel who left for a variety of reasons including on age grounds, at end of contract and voluntary discharges and also includes a number of trainees who exited prior to completion of their initial training.
I have previously acknowledged the staffing difficulties in the Defence Forces, and work is ongoing to counter these. My immediate focus is on stabilising the numbers of personnel in the Defence Forces and thereafter increasing strength to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.
