Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2017
295. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the recent figures for the strength in whole-time equivalent terms of the Permanent Defence Force with regard to all three services and all ranks; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45493/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra296. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the recent figures for the strength of the Reserve Defence Forces with regard to all three services and all ranks; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45494/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra297. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of additional recruits the Permanent Defence Force have taken on to date in 2017 with regard to all three services; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45495/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra298. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of whole-time equivalent persons who have been recruited in each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017, to the Permanent Defence Forces. [45496/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 295 to 298, inclusive, together.
The following tables set out below provide the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 30 September 2017 across all three services and ranks, broken down by gender. The figures provided are for whole time equivalent posts.
Army
|
Rank |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Lieutenant General |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Major General |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Brigadier General |
6 |
0 |
6 |
|
Colonel |
32 |
1 |
33 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
101 |
2 |
103 |
|
Commandant |
217 |
33 |
250 |
|
Captain |
220 |
46 |
266 |
|
Lieutenant |
103 |
13 |
116 |
|
Sergeant Major |
26 |
0 |
26 |
|
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant |
26 |
0 |
26 |
|
Company Sergeant |
82 |
2 |
84 |
|
Company Quartermaster Sergeant |
139 |
2 |
141 |
|
Sergeant |
752 |
52 |
804 |
|
Corporal |
1,228 |
107 |
1,335 |
|
Private |
3,738 |
200 |
3,938 |
|
Cadets |
124 |
27 |
151 |
|
Total |
6,797 |
485 |
7,282 |
Air Corps
|
Rank |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Brigadier General |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Colonel |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
11 |
0 |
11 |
|
Commandant |
31 |
2 |
33 |
|
Captain |
44 |
7 |
51 |
|
Lieutenant |
22 |
0 |
22 |
|
Sergeant Major |
6 |
1 |
7 |
|
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Company Sergeant |
52 |
0 |
52 |
|
Company Quartermaster Sergeant |
9 |
1 |
10 |
|
Sergeant |
95 |
7 |
102 |
|
Corporal |
141 |
10 |
151 |
|
Private |
210 |
7 |
217 |
|
Cadets |
42 |
1 |
43 |
|
Total |
669 |
36 |
705 |
Naval Service
|
Rank |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Brigadier General |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Colonel |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
13 |
0 |
13 |
|
Commandant |
42 |
8 |
50 |
|
Captain |
38 |
14 |
52 |
|
Lieutenant |
42 |
2 |
44 |
|
Sergeant Major |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant |
6 |
0 |
6 |
|
Company Sergeant |
66 |
0 |
66 |
|
Company Quartermaster Sergeant |
13 |
0 |
13 |
|
Sergeant |
158 |
7 |
165 |
|
Corporal |
126 |
8 |
134 |
|
Private |
475 |
25 |
500 |
|
Cadets |
22 |
2 |
24 |
|
Total |
1,009 |
66 |
1,075 |
The tables below set out the effective strength of the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve as of 30 September 2017, by rank, service and gender.
Army Reserve
|
Rank |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Commandant |
48 |
2 |
50 |
|
Captain |
35 |
1 |
36 |
|
Lieutenant |
142 |
40 |
182 |
|
Sergeant Major |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Battalion Quarter Master Sergeant |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Company Sergeant |
43 |
0 |
43 |
|
Company Quarter Master Sergeant |
55 |
2 |
57 |
|
Sergeant |
232 |
19 |
251 |
|
Corporal |
279 |
67 |
346 |
|
Private |
685 |
128 |
813 |
|
Total |
1,530 |
259 |
1,789 |
Naval Service Reserve
|
Rank |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Commandant |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Captain |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Lieutenant |
6 |
1 |
7 |
|
Sergeant Major |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Battalion Quarter Master Sergeant |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Company Sergeant |
6 |
0 |
6 |
|
Company Quarter Master Sergeant |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sergeant |
10 |
0 |
10 |
|
Corporal |
17 |
5 |
22 |
|
Private |
58 |
14 |
72 |
|
Total |
107 |
20 |
127 |
The table below sets out the number of additional general service recruits the Permanent Defence Force have taken on to-date in 2017.
|
Service |
Total |
Male |
Female |
|
Army |
448 |
412 |
36 |
|
Naval Service |
62 |
52 |
10 |
|
Air Corps |
22 |
22 |
0 |
|
Total |
532 |
486 |
46 |
The table below sets out the number of whole time equivalent persons recruited in the years 2017 to-date (including general service recruits, cadets, direct entry).
|
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 to date |
|
446 |
503 |
415 |
690 |
645 |
There is significant ongoing recruitment at both enlisted and officer level and it is anticipated that up to 800 new personnel will have been inducted into the Permanent Defence Force during 2017. This includes general service recruits, apprentices, cadets and direct entry officers. A range of recruitment methods are being employed including direct entry competitions for specialist positions and the scope to further expand direct entry is being considered.
I remain committed to maximising recruitment to the Defence Forces and ensuring that, where possible, the terms and conditions of service are as favourable as they can be within the current budgetary parameters.
With the support of the Chief of Staff and within the resources available, the Government is committed to retaining 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 abroad.
