Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 February 2024
75. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the establishment figure of each branch of the Defence Forces; the current number; the number targeted for recruitment, by branch, in tabular form; the number who left, for each of the years 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6941/24]
View answerAs at 31 December 2023, the latest date for which such figures are available the strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 7,550 personnel i.e. 6,136 Army, 689 Air Corps, and 725 Naval Service.
The current agreed establishment of the Defence Forces is 9,589 i.e. 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps, 1094 Naval Service, and 89 additional positions to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.
The table below sets out the number of discharges by branch, as at 31 December 2023, the latest date for which such figures are available.
|
Army |
Air Corp |
Naval Service |
|
|
2020 |
491 |
48 |
102 |
|
2021 |
553 |
50 |
103 |
|
2022 |
716 |
73 |
102 |
|
2023 |
597 |
60 |
93 |
The Defence Forces have projected inductions of 540 in 2024, and have been instructed to increase this number. This will be facilitated by the allocation of €1.23 billion for the Defence Sector in Budget 2024, which includes a provision for the recruitment and training of a net additional 400 personnel in 2024.
