Brendan Howlin
Question:60. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current establishment strength of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34636/23]
View answerWednesday, 12 July 2023
Questions (60, 61)
Brendan Howlin
Question:61. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence how many personnel left the Defence Forces in each year since 2016, in tabular form, broken down by officers and other ranks; how many have left in 2023 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34637/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 61 together.
The table below details the number of personnel, broken down by officers and enlisted personnel, that discharged from the Permanent Defence Force each year since 2016 and as at 31st May in 2023:
|
Year |
Officers |
Enlisted |
Total |
|
2023* |
34 |
259 |
293 |
|
2022 |
70 |
821 |
891 |
|
2021 |
35 |
651 |
686 |
|
2020 |
35 |
606 |
641 |
|
2019 |
70 |
812 |
882 |
|
2018 |
57 |
683 |
740 |
|
2017 |
76 |
666 |
742 |
|
2016 |
80 |
599 |
679 |
*As of the 31 May 2023
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.
The established strength of the Defence Forces is 9,500 personnel and the current strength, as of 31st May 2023, stood at 7,764 personnel. Ongoing staffing challenges in the Defence Forces have been acknowledged. In that regard, my immediate focus is now 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.
Question No. 61 answered with Question No. 60.