Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 May 1982

Vol. 334 No. 3

Written Answers. - Defence Forces.

485.

Mr. Markey

asked the Minister for Defence when FCA officers of the Eastern and Curragh commands, who were gazetted as 2nd lieutenants in January 1978 are likely to be promoted to lieutenant.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Power)

Three of these officers were promoted to the rank of lieutenant recently. The question of the promotion of the remainder is under consideration.

486.

Mr. Markey

asked the Minister for Defence the requirements for promotion to lieutenant, captain and commandant in An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil; the retirement ages for each of these ranks; and if these are likely to change in the next two years.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Power)

The information requested by the Deputy is as follows:—

(1) Requirements for promotion to Lieutenant, Captain and Commandant in An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil:—

Promotions of officers of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil are made by the Minister to fill vacancies in establishments. The requirements for promotion are summarised below:—

(a) completion of a minimum period of satisfactory service;

(b) attendance at a specified number of periods of annual training;

(c) general suitability for promotion.

(2) Ages for the relinquishment of their commissions by officers of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil in the ranks of Lieutenant, Captain and Commandant:—

(i) Medical Officers, Dental Officers and Engineer Officers: Lieutenant; 65 years, Captain; 65 years, Commandant; 65 years.

(ii) Other Officers: Lieutenant; 55 years, Captain; 55 years, Commandant; 57 years.

(3) Likelihood of changes in the next two years in the requirements for promotion or the ages for the relinquishment of their commissions by officers of An Fórsa:—

The question of introducing a scheme of fixed period promotion from lieutenant to captain is currently under consideration. There are at present no further proposals to revise either the requirements for promotion or the ages for the relinquishment of their commissions by officers of An Fórsa. The conditions of services of all personnel are kept under review.

487.

Mr. Markey

asked the Minister for Defence the number of FCA and An Slua Muirí personnel on full time security duty, by rank at 31 January 1970 and 1980 and 28 February 1982.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Power)

The number and rank of FCA personnel on full-time security duty on 31 January 1980 and 28 February 1982 was as follows:—

	31 January 1980	28 February 1982
Officers	25	28
Non-commissioned Officers	173	198
Privates	159	146
Total	387	372

There were no FCA personnel employed on full-time security duty on 31 January 1970.

Slua Muirí personnel have not been employed on these duties.

488.

Mr. Markey

asked the Minister for Defence the procedure, if any, to divest an FCA/An Slua Muirí officer of his commission where: (a) his voluntary attendance is minimal i.e. less than 24 hours per year and/or (b) he has not attended annual training for two or more years; (c) his service is regarded as unsatisfactory by his unit O.C.; and (d) other reasons; and the number of such actions in 1979, 1980 and 1981.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Power)

In accordance with sub-section (2) of section 48 of the Defence Act, 1954, the President may, for any prescribed reason, direct that an officer shall relinquish his commission. The prescribed reasons in the case of an officer of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil or An Slua Muirí are:—

(a) that he is below the required physical standards;

(b) that he is of unsound mind;

(c) that he has failed to carry out his military obligations as required by the Act and/or Regulations made under the Act;

(d) that the relinquishment of his commission is in the interests of the service.

This function of the President is exercisably by him on the advice of the Government.

The numbers of officers whose commissions were relinquished subject to these provisions in 1979, 1980 and 1981 are as follows: 1979; 1, 1980; 4, 1981; 1.

489.

Mr. Markey

asked the Minister for Defence the establishment of the FCA and An Slua Muirí by rank and corps on 31 January 1959 and 1982.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Power)

The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following statements:

Establishment of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil

RANK	Infantry	Artillery	Cavalry	Engineer	Signals
1959	1982	1959	1982	1959	1982	1959	1982	1959	1982
Commandants	—	—	17	18	—	—	—	—	—	—
Captains	119	119	58	66	18	18	6	6	3	3
Lieutenants	544	534	110	117	9	9	15	15	15	15
TOTAL OFFICERS	663	653	185	201	27	27	21	21	18	18
Sergeants-Major	17	18	3	6	—	—	—	—	—	—
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeants	17	18	3	6	—	—	—	—	—	—
Company Sergeants	85	83	20	21	3	3	3	3	3	3
Company Quartermaster Sergeants	85	83	20	21	3	3	3	3	3	3
Sergeants	663	653	274	300	54	54	33	33	21	21
Corporals	2,584	2,526	316	357	45	45	60	60	72	72
TOTAL NCOs	3,451	3,381	636	711	105	105	99	99	99	99
Privates	11,917	11,645	2,105	2,304	396	396	567	567	243	243
TOTAL ALL RANKS	16,031	15,679	2,926	3,216	528	528	687	687	360	360

Note: Peace establishments were reviewed in 1958 and a reorganisation of the Defence Forces was implemented with effect from 1 October 1959. establishment on the latter date is given.

Establishment of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil

RANK	Supply and Transport	Medical	Military Police	Area Commanders	Brigade Head-quarters	Command FCA Staffs	TOTAL
1959	1982	1959	1982	1959	1982	1959	1982	1959	1982	1959	1982
Commandants	—	—	3	—	—	—	98	97	9	18	127	133
Captains	3	3	3	12	3	6	—	—	—	—	213	233
Lieutenants	21	21	15	36	12	24	—	—	—	—	741	771
TOTAL OFFICERS	24	24	21	48	15	30	98	97	9	18	1,081	1,137
Sergeants-Major	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	20	24
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeants	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	20	24
Company Sergeants	3	3	3	6	3	6	—	—	—	—	123	128
Company Quartermaster Sergeants	3	3	3	6	3	6	—	—	—	—	123	128
Sergeants	27	27	30	60	33	66	—	—	—	—	1,135	1,214
Corporals	66	66	27	54	189	378	—	—	—	—	3,359	3,558
TOTAL NCOs	99	99	63	126	228	456	—	—	—	—	4,780	5,076
Privates	264	264	279	558	12	24	—	—	—	—	15,783	16,001
TOTAL ALL RANKS	387	387	363	732	255	510	98	97	9	18	21,644	22,214

Note: Peace Establishments were reviewed in 1958 and a reorganisation of the Defence Forces was implemented with effect from 1 October 1959. establishment on the latter date is given.

Establishment of an Slua Muirí

RANK	1959	1982
Lieutenant-Commanders	5	5
Lieutenants	10	15
Sub-Lieutenants	30	30
TOTAL OFFICERS	45	50
Warrant Officers	5	—
Senior Chief Petty Officers	—	5
Chief Petty Officers	30	25
Senior Petty Officers	—	5
Petty Officers	40	80
Leading Seamen	60	105
TOTAL NCOs	135	220
Seamen	425	405
TOTAL ALL RANKS	605	675

Note: Peace Establishments were reviewed in 1958 and a reorganisation of the Defence Forces was implemented with effect from 1 October 1959. The establishment on the latter date is given.

490.

Mr. Markey

asked the Minister for Defence the strength of the FCA and An Slua Muirí by rank and corps on 31 January 1959, 1969 and 1982.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Power)

The following is the information requested with the exception of details relating to strength by Corps of the FCA on 31 January 1959. It is not possible from the records available to ascertain this information.

Strength by ranks and Commands of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil on 31 January 1959

Command	Captains	Lieutenants	Second Lieutenants	Sergeant Major	Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant	Company Sergeant	Company Quartermaster Sergeant	Sergeant	Corporals	Privates
East	45	190	96	14		62	9	180	521	5,105
South	40	134	66			11	4	151	331	5,519
West	34	128	57			17	2	58	348	5,699

Strength by ranks and Corps of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil on 31 January 1969

Corps	Commandants	Captains	Lieutenants	Second Lieutenants	Sergeant Major	Battalion Quarter-master Sergeant	Company Sergeant	Company Quarter-master Sergeant	Sergeant	Corporals	Privates
Administrative Staff	11
Infantry	45	52	226	137	11	4	64	27	426	1,369	11,020
Artillery	12	34	37	17	1		10	4	153	185	1,333
Cavalry	1	9	8	2			2	1	30	32	297
Engineering	1	1	14				1		22	32	348
Signals		3	10	3			2		13	42	238
Supply and Transport		3	6	5	1		2	2	18	48	364
Medical		3	12				2	2	20	20	283
Military Police		4	8	4			3	1	34	178	249
Area Commanders	12

Strength by ranks and Corps of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil on 31 January 1982

Corps	Commandants	Captains	Lieutenants	Second Lieutenants	Sergeant Major	Battalion Quarter-master Sergeant	Company Sergeant	Company Quarter-master Sergeant	Sergeant	Corporals	Privates
Administrative Staff	16	1
Infantry	25	72	192	156	15	8	64	44	501	1,386	11,109
Artillery	17	38	28	44	6	4	14	10	181	163	1,621
Cavalry		8	7	7			3	2	41	32	315
Engineering		4	7				3	1	27	36	351
Signals		3	8	4			2	1	16	44	245
Supply and Transport		3	7	5			2	2	23	49	391
Medical		3	7	4			4	3	37	21	321
Military Police		5	10	5			5	5	60	246	287
Area Commanders	26	3

Strength by ranks of An Slua Muirí as on dates shown

Date	Lieutenant- Commander	Lieutenant	Sub- Lieutenant	Ensign	Warrant Officer	Senior Chief Petty Officer	Chief Petty Officer	Senior Petty Officer	Petty Officer	Leading Seaman	Seaman
31/1/1959		3	5	7	4		15		18	22	277
31/1/1969	3	10	16		2	3	16	1	21	28	197
31/1/1982	4	10	8	5	1	3	22	2	30	22	213

491.

Mr. Markey

asked the Minister for Defence the establishment figure, by rank, of PDF personnel attached to the FCA and An Slua Muirí on 31 January 1959, 1969 and 1982.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Power)

The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following statements:

Establishment of Permanent Defence Force Personnel attached to An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil.

Rank	1st October, 1959	31st January 1969	31st January 1982
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
Colonels	3	3	3
Lieutenant-Colonels	3	3	4
Commandants	38	38	63
Captains	53	60	86
Lieutenants	112	112	75
TOTAL OFFICERS	209	216	231
Company Sergeants	2	3	7
Company Quarter-Master Sergeants	144	150	164
Sergeants	125	134	137
Corporals	203	207	220
TOTAL NCOs	474	494	528
Privates	260	282	243
TOTAL ALL RANKS	943	992	1,002

Notes:

1. In addition to the figures shown in column (4) above the 1979 reorganisation of the Defence Forces provided for the establishment of a Directorate of Reserve Forces with responsibility for the development of an effective First Line Reserve and An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil. The establishment of the Directorate of Reserve Forces is 15 All Ranks (1 Colonel, 1 Lieutenant-Colonel, 3 Commandants, 2 Captains, 1 Company Sergeant, 1 Company Quartermaster Sergeant, 2 Sergeants, 1 Corporal and 3 Privates).

2. Peace Establishments were reviewed in 1958 and a reorganisation of the Defence Forces was implemented with effect from 1 October 1959. The establishment on the latter date is given.

Establishment of Permanent Defence Force Personnel attached to An Slua Muirí.

Rank	1st October 1959	31st January 1969	31st January 1982
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
Lieutenants	3	3	3
TOTAL OFFICERS	3	3	3
Chief Petty Officers	5	5	5
Petty Officers	13	13	13
TOTAL NCOs	18	18	18
TOTAL SEAMEN	5	5	5
TOTAL ALL RANKS	26	26	26

Notes:

1. In addition to the figures shown in columns (2), (3) and (4) above an appointment of 1 Lieutenant-Commander is provided for in the establishment of Naval Service Headquarters as Staff Officer in charge of An Slua Muirí.

2. Peace Establishments were reviewed in 1958 and a reorganisation of the Defence Forces was implemented with effect from 1 October 1959. The establishment on the latter date is given.

492.

Mr. Markey

asked the Minister for Defence the strength, by rank, of PDF personnel attached to the FCA and An Slua Muirí on 31 January 1959, 1969 and 1982.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Power)

The information requested is as follows:

An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil.

Date	Cols	Lt Cols	Comdts	Capts	Lts	Total Offrs	C/S	CQMS	Sgts	Cpls	Total NCOs	Ptes	Total all Ranks
31/1/59	1	1	24	25	—	51	—	103	26	—	129	9	189
31/1/69	—	—	32	46	54	132	1	110	112	174	397	170	699
31/1/82	4	5	63	46	8	126	10	138	137	182	467	217	810

An Slua Muirí.

Date	Lts	Total Offrs	CPOs	POs	Total NCOs	Seamen	Total all Ranks
31/1/59	2	2	2	2	4	—	6
31/1/69	2	2	4	12	16	5	23
31/1/82	1	1	4	9	13	4	18

493.

Mr. Markey

asked the Minister for Defence the number of FCA personnel differential as to Officers, NCO's and men, who completed a minimum fourteen days annual training in 1959, 1969 and 1982.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Power)

The following is the information requested, with the exception of the number of officers who completed a minimum of 14 days annual training in the years 1959 and 1969. This information is not readily available from the records held in the Department.

Year	Officers	Non-Commissioned Officers	Privates	Total
1959	—	53	3,788	3,841
1969	—	426	3,706	4,132
1981	549	1,883	3,489	5,921

494.

Mr. Markey

asked the Minister for Defence the establishment and strength, by rank, of the observer corps at 31 January 1972 and 1982; and the role of the corps.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Power)

The appended statement gives the activated establishment and strength by rank of the Observer Corps at 31 January 1972 and 1982.

The activated Observer Corps has as its main role, in conjunction with the Civil Defence Organisation, the monitoring of nuclear explosions and consequential radio-active fall-out and the preparation of appropriate warnings to the public.

The Observer Corps — Permanent Defence Force.

Rank	31st January, 1972	31st January, 1982
Activated Establishment	Strength	Activated Establishment	Strength
Colonels	1	1	1	1
Lieutenant-Colonels	1	1	1	1
Commandants	4	4	4	4
Captains	4	2	4	—
TOTAL OFFICERS	10	8	10	6
Company Sergeants	1	—	1	1
Company Quartermaster Sergeants	4	3	4	4
Sergeants	6	5	6	6
Corporals	1	—	1	1
TOTAL NCOs	12	8	12	12
Privates	9	—	9	1
TOTAL ALL RANKS	31	16	31	19

495.

Mr. Markey

asked the Minister for Defence whether it is intended to separate the appointments of Company Commander and Area Commander in An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil as some officers at the moment hold dual appointments while others have separate appointments.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Power)

The appointments of company commander and area commander are separate appointments in the ranks of captain and commandant respectively. In some areas both appointments are filled by the same officer. This arises where there is no suitable officer available for appointment as company commander.

This arrangement does not interfere with the promotion prospects of other officers.