Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2024
154. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of people who retired from the Defence Forces in each of the years 2019 to date, by rank and by years of service, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7903/24]
View answerThe table below details the number of personnel who were discharged, by rank and by year, between 2019 and 2023, as requested. The military authorities have advised that it is not possible to provide the requested detail on the length of service for each individual as this information is not readily available.
Discharges from Permanent Defence Forces - 2019 to 2023
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
|
Lt General |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Maj General |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Brig General |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Col |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
8 |
|
Lt Col |
11 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
12 |
|
Comdt |
27 |
10 |
11 |
31 |
31 |
|
Capt |
21 |
8 |
10 |
24 |
19 |
|
Lt |
3 |
4 |
3 |
6 |
6 |
|
Sgt Major |
9 |
10 |
2 |
7 |
6 |
|
BQMS |
9 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
8 |
|
CS |
28 |
25 |
27 |
31 |
28 |
|
CQMS |
15 |
13 |
14 |
30 |
12 |
|
Sgt |
98 |
75 |
90 |
109 |
95 |
|
Cpl |
117 |
74 |
102 |
148 |
135 |
|
PTE 3* |
349 |
210 |
225 |
338 |
287 |
|
PTE 2* |
20 |
13 |
9 |
9 |
4 |
|
Rec |
150 |
153 |
163 |
132 |
96 |
|
Appr |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
Cadet |
14 |
24 |
11 |
10 |
6 |
|
Total |
882 |
641 |
686 |
891 |
755 |
The term ‘discharges’ includes personnel who left for a variety of reasons including on age grounds, at end of contract and voluntary discharges. Also included are a number of trainees who exited prior to completion of their initial training (Private 2*, Recruits, Apprentices and Cadets).
I have previously acknowledged the staffing difficulties in the Defence Forces, and work is ongoing to counter these. My immediate focus remains on stabilising the numbers of personnel, and to facilitate capacity for further increases.
