Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
193. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of retirements in each branch of the Defence Forces in the years 2019 to date; the number projected in the years 2024 to 2028, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16549/24]
View answerThe military authorities have provided the following two tables:
Table A details the number of retirements/discharges, by Branch and by year, from 2019 to 2024, as at 29 February 2024
Table A
|
Year |
Army |
Air Corps |
Naval Service |
Total |
|
2019 |
655 |
88 |
139 |
882 |
|
2020 |
491 |
48 |
102 |
641 |
|
2021 |
533 |
50 |
103 |
686 |
|
2022 |
716 |
73 |
102 |
891 |
|
2023 |
600 |
60 |
95 |
755 |
|
2024* |
80 |
9 |
8 |
97 |
*as at 29 February 2024
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.
Table B provides the projected mandatory retirements on age grounds, the only retirements/discharges that can be accurately predicted into the future, from 2024 to 2028. The military authorities advise that these details take account of the recent increases in mandatory retirement ages.
Table B
|
Year |
Army |
Air Corps |
Naval Service |
Total |
|
2024 |
53 |
7 |
6 |
66 |
|
2025 |
89 |
8 |
3 |
100 |
|
2026 |
92 |
7 |
10 |
109 |
|
2027 |
85 |
12 |
14 |
111 |
|
2028 |
94 |
10 |
7 |
111 |
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.
