Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 May 2014
163. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which retirement from the Defence Forces in the current year is likely to impact on structures at all ranks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20809/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the military authorities that between 1 January and 30 April 2014, 128 personnel left the Permanent Defence Force. I am further advised that the Defence Forces did have some indicative figures of numbers of personnel intending to retire by 31 August 2014, the original date under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act which allows staff who retire before this date to have their pension calculated on the pay rate in force prior to 1st July 2013. However, on foot of a Government decision to extend the grace period to 30th June 2015, a number of members of the Defence Forces have indicated their intention to re-consider their proposed retirement dates. Taking this into account and given that personnel can retire from the Defence Forces for a variety of other reasons, the Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible to accurately forecast retirements for the remainder of 2014. Taking the departures for the first three months of the year into account, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 31 March 2014, the latest date for which details are available, stood at 9,133.
As the Deputy will be aware the Government has agreed a stabilised strength of 9,500 for the Permanent Defence Force. In the context of current strength numbers being below the agreed stabilised strength, a new General Service recruitment campaign for both the Permanent and the Reserve Defence Force was announced in March this year. The Defence Forces plan to induct up to 400 personnel to the Permanent Defence Force (both Army and Navy) and up to 500 personnel to the Reserve Defence Force (both Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve) in 2014. Additionally arrangements are currently underway to hold a Cadetship Competition for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service in 2014. It is planned to award a total of 40 cadetships from this competition comprising of twenty (20) Army, nine (9) Air Corps and eleven (11) Naval Service.
With the support of the Chief of Staff and within the resources available, it is intended to retain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks laid down by Government both at home and overseas.
