Defence Forces Strength

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 July 2019

Wednesday, 10 July 2019

Ceisteanna (101, 103)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

101. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the strength of the Permanent Defence Force by rank and gender across the three services in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30375/19]

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

103. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of additional recruits to the Permanent Defence Force to date in 2019 with regard to the three services; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30377/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 103 together.

The most recent figures, as of 31 May 2019, give the whole-time equivalent strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) as 8,751 personnel. The requested breakdown is provided in the attached tables.

The military authorities have advised that, as of 30 June 2019, 185 personnel have been inducted, as detailed in the following table.

	Total Inductions	General Service Recruits Male	General Service Recruits Female	General Service Recruits Total	Direct Entry Male	Direct Entry Female	Direct Entry Total
Army	139	130	7	137	2	0	2
Naval	46	44	1	45	1	0	1
Total	185	174	8	182	3	0	3

Recruitment and inductions will continue throughout 2019 to ensure the Defence Forces retain the capacity to operate effectively across all roles.

WTE (WHOLE TIME EQUIVALENT) STRENGTH OF THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE 31 MAY 19

	LT	MAJ	BRIG	COL	LT	COMDT	CAPT	LT	TOTAL	SM	BQMS	CS	CQMS	SGTS	CPLS	TOTAL	PTES	CADETS	TOTAL
	GEN	GEN	GEN		COL				OFFRS							NCOS
ARMY	1	2	5	32	104	251	275	213	883	29	32	112	168	854	1263	2458	3660	78	7079
AIR CORPS			1	1	11	35	45	28	121	7	3	46	15	101	142	314	243	28	706
NAVAL SERVICE	0	0	1	2	14	54	33	50	154	6	6	70	12	172	143	409	385	18	966
TOTAL	1	2	7	35	129	340	353	291	1158	42	41	228	195	1127	1548	3181	4288	124	8,751

WTE STRENGTH OF FEMALES IN THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE 31 MAY 19

	LT	MAJ	BRIG	COL	LT	COMDT	CAPT	LT	TOTAL	SM	BQMS	CS	CQMS	SGTS	CPLS	TOTAL	PTES	CADETS	TOTAL
	GEN	GEN	GEN		COL				OFFRS							NCOS
ARMY	0	0	0	1	2	38	47	33	121	0	0	2	9	51	101	163	199	9	492
AIR CORPS	0	0	0	0	0	2	8	1	11	0	0	1	2	5	8	16	5	1	33
NAVAL SERVICE	0	0	0	0	0	9	10	3	22	0	0	0	0	7	8	15	25	2	64
TOTAL	0	0	0	1	2	49	65	37	154	0	0	3	11	63	117	194	229	12	589

WTE STRENGTH OF MALES IN THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE 31 MAY 19

	LT	MAJ	BRIG	COL	LT	COMDT	CAPT	LT	TOTAL	SM	BQMS	CS	CQMS	SGTS	CPLS	TOTAL	PTES	CADETS	TOTAL
	GEN	GEN	GEN		COL				OFFRS							NCOS
ARMY	1	2	5	31	102	213	228	180	762	29	32	110	159	803	1162	2295	3461	69	6587
AIR CORPS	0	0	1	1	11	33	37	27	110	7	3	45	13	96	134	298	238	27	673
NAVAL SERVICE	0	0	1	2	14	45	23	47	132	6	6	70	12	165	135	394	360	16	902
TOTAL	1	2	7	34	127	291	288	254	1004	42	41	225	184	1064	1431	2987	4059	112	8162