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Wednesday, 7 Nov 2012

Written Answers Nos. 166-172

Defence Forces Strength

Ceisteanna (166)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

166. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if he will indicate the number of military posts vacant or otherwise awaiting to be filled at all ranks in the Army, Navy and Air Corps as at 1 January 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; the extent to which all or part thereof have been filled to date or remain to be filled including promotions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49030/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The strength of the Permanent Defence Force all ranks for the years 2008 to 2012 is as follow; 2008 – 10,409, 2009 – 9,906, 2010 – 9,550 and 2011- 9,438. Figures are based on the strength at the end of December for each year as statistics are compiled for the end of each month rather than the beginning of the month. The total number of vacancies all ranks are therefore as follows: 2008 – 91; 2009 – 594; 2010 – 450; 2011 – 62. Table A outlines the strength, broken down into Army, Navy and Air Corps, and the total vacancies, by rank, based on the rank establishment of 9,500 versus the strength of 9,028. These figures relate to 30 September 2012 which is the latest date for which figures are available.

In relation to promotions I announced a major re-organisation of the Permanent Defence Force on Tuesday, 17 July, 2012. The re-organisation will involve the relocation of Permanent Defence Force units and personnel and the disestablishment of certain units. At this stage detailed information is not available as to which personnel may move to new locations with their units or the number of personnel who will wish to remain in the locations affected by the re-organisation. These issues, including the effect of the changes on promotion posts to be filled and the location of such posts are currently being worked through as part of the implementation process which includes discussions with the representative associations. Therefore, it is not possible to definitely state at this time where and what promotions will be implemented over the remainder of this year.

Table B outlines the promotions within the Permanent Defence Force which have been carried out to 30 October 2012. Promotions will be carried out within the resource envelope allocated to Defence.

TABEL A - PDF Strength by rank as at 30 September 2012 versus PDF Rank Establishment of 9,500

LTGEN

MAJGEN

BRIGGEN

COL

LTCOL

COMDT

CAPT

Lt

BSM

BQMS

CS

CQMS

Sgts

Cpls

PTES/ CADETS

TOTAL

9,500 Rank Establishment

1

2

8

41

137

336

452

256

44

43

245

199

1,330

1800

4,606

9,500

Army Strength at 30 September 2012

1

1

6

31

108

260

324

242

23

26

75

156

809

1397

3835

7294

Air Corps Strength at 30 September 2012

0

1

1

1

13

33

57

29

6

3

30

8

109

181

284

756

Navy Strength at 30 September 2012

0

0

1

2

12

44

56

48

6

7

50

9

157

180

406

978

Vacancies by rank

0

0

0

-7

-4

+1

-15

+63

-9

-7

-90

-26

-255

-42

-81

-472

TABLE B

The number of promotions which have occurred in the PDF in 2012 to 30 October are as follows:

-

-

-

Officer Promotions

-

-

-

NCO Promotions

Rank Promoted To

Army

Naval Service

Air Corps

Rank Promoted To

Army

Naval Service

Air Corps

Major General

1

Battalion Sergeant Major

2

Brigadier General

4

Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant

5

3

Colonel

10

Company Sergeant

23

Lieutenant Colonel

20

Company Quartermaster Sergeant

6

Commandant

62

13

10

Captain

56

6

7

Corporal

90

11

17

Lieutenant

34

1

3

Total

187

20

20

Total

95

45

17

Total Officers

227

Total NCO Promotions

157

Defence Forces Retirement Scheme

Ceisteanna (167)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

167. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the total number of retirements, at all ranks and by gender from the Army, Navy and Air Corps in each of the past four years to date; the level of replacement in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49031/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

It was not possible to provide the detailed information sought by the Deputy in the time available. My Department is currently seeking to compile the relevant data and I will provide the information directly to the Deputy once it comes to hand.

Question No. 168 answered with Question No. 12.

Search and Rescue Service

Ceisteanna (169)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

169. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied that air sea rescue services at Navy and Air Corps level continue to be adequately staffed and funded in view of the extent of coastline and the need to combat drug or people trafficking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49033/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of search and rescue services within the Irish search and rescue region and the responsibility for the prevention of drug-trafficking and people trafficking rests primarily with the Revenue Commissioners and An Garda Síochána respectively. However, the White Paper on Defence provides a role for the Naval Service and the Air Corps to assist and support the civil authorities in this work. In this regard, the Air Corps and the Naval Service provide support to these agencies as the need arises and within their available capabilities. A service level agreement is in place with the Irish Coast Guard which sets out the search and rescue assistance that the Air Corps and Naval Service can provide to the Coast Guard. The provision of onshore assistance by Air Corps helicopters for mountain rescue operations is covered in the agreement as is the fixed wing top cover by the Air Corps Casa aircraft to Coast Guard helicopters offshore. Assistance that is provided by the Naval Service to the Coast Guard during maritime search and rescue and recovery operations is also included in the Service Level Agreement.

Government measures to improve law enforcement in relation to drugs, including the establishment in 1993 of a Joint Task Force involving An Garda Síochána, the Customs Service and the Naval Service, have helped to maximise the effective use of Naval Service resources in combating drug trafficking. The Air Corps provide air support and, on occasion, carry the Customs national drugs team in an observational capacity for the purpose of monitoring vessels suspected of drug trafficking and other illegal activities. There is close co-operation between the civil authorities and the Naval Service and the Air Corps in discharging this important mission.

Furthermore, Ireland along with other EU Member States participate in the EU Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics, MAOC-N. This Centre has led to a greater focus on intelligence exchange amongst countries to tackle large drug shipments by sea. MAOC-N was set up by seven European countries and is designed as an international co-ordination force.

Naval Service vessels are multi-tasked in the sense that they also undertake general surveillance, security and other duties while on fishery patrol. The Air Corps maritime squadron carries out aerial surveillance of territorial waters using the two CASA maritime patrol aircraft. These aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and communication equipment which offers aerial assistance to the Naval Service in patrolling the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone.

In relation to maritime surveillance generally, an inter-departmental maritime surveillance working group, chaired by the Department of Transport, was established under the auspices of the marine co-ordination group. The Group is working towards the creation of a common information-sharing environment to enhance safety and security within the Irish maritime domain.

I am satisfied that both the Air Corps and Naval Service have the necessary resources to meet their operational requirements in these important areas.

Defence Forces Properties

Ceisteanna (170)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

170. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which he expects receipts from the disposal of military barracks or other installations to go towards the upgrading of military capability in terms of equipment or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49034/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The monies received from the sales of surplus properties have returned to the Defence Vote as Appropriations in Aid. The increased levels of appropriations in aid have allowed the retention of funding levels for re-equipment. Some of the major more recent programmes include the acquisition of light tactical armoured vehicles, Mowag armoured personnel carriers, two EC 135 helicopters, six AW 139 helicopters and two new offshore patrol vessels. This approach is in line with the 2000 White Paper on Defence and the Government decision of February 2000 which, inter alia, approved “ the allocation of ….100% of the revenue arising from the sale of property surplus to military requirements, for investment in equipment and infrastructure for the Defence Forces”.

Defence Forces Retirement Scheme

Ceisteanna (171)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

171. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the number of women who have retired from the Defence Forces in each of the past three years to date; the number of women recruits in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49035/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The following table sets out the number of women who have left the Permanent Defence Force and the number of women who were inducted into the Permanent Defence Force in each of the years 2010 and 2011, and at 31 October 2012, the latest date for which figures are available. The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. Unlike many other national armed forces, the Defence Forces have no restrictions as regards the assignment of men or women to the full range of operational and administrative duties. All promotions and career courses are open to both genders on merit.

The number of women in the Permanent Defence Force has risen from 567 (5.7% of overall strength) at the beginning of 2010 to 573 (6.26% of overall strength) as at 31 October 2012.

YEAR

DISCHARGES

INTAKE

2010

12

14

2011

25

21

2012 to 31/10/12

18

26

TOTAL

55

61

Defence Forces Recruitment

Ceisteanna (172)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

172. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the number of cadets enrolled in each of the past four years to date by gender; the number at passing out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49036/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The number, by gender, of cadets inducted to the Permanent Defence Force in each year 2009 to 2012 along with the number who were subsequently commissioned as officers is shown in the following tabular statement. The difference between those inducted and those subsequently commissioned or still in training reflects those who were discharged before completion of training.

As with all recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force, the intake of cadets is within the resource envelope allocated to Defence.

NUMBER OF CADETSHIPS AWARDED AND NUMBER OF CADETS COMMISSIONED 2009 – 2012

Year

Female Intake

Male Intake

Females Commissioned

Males Commissioned

Females Still In Training

Males Still In Training

2009

9

33

7

29

0

0

2010

3

27

3

23

0

3

2011

2

30

0

0

2

28

2012

4

33

0

0

4

32

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