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Defence Forces Personnel Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 July 2019

Thursday, 11 July 2019

Ceisteanna (65, 66, 94, 95)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

65. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of persons who purchased their discharge from the Permanent Defence Force in each of the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30551/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

66. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount collected from those who purchased their discharge in each of the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30552/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

94. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 73 of 8 May 2019, if the information requested will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30607/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

95. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 117 of 11 June 2019, if the information requested will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30609/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 66, 94 and 95 together.

Statistics are currently being collated in order to provide a comprehensive response to these questions. Full data is not available in the timeframe set out for reply as the validation of some data requires a manual search of records which is being undertaken at the moment.

I will revert once the relevant data is provided to me.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
With regard to the above-referenced composite parliamentary questions, I undertook to reply to you with the information requested. The table below provides details of the number of Defence Forces discharges in each of the years 2010 to 2018, the number of those that discharged by purchase, broken down by rank, and the amount received by the Department for these discharges.
DEFENCE FORCES DISCHARGES

Year

Service

Discharge by Purchase by Rank*

Amount

received by the Department from Discharge by Purchase

Voluntary early retirement**

Other Discharges incl retirements on age grounds***

SGT

CPL

PTE

RECRUIT

APPRENTICE

2018

ARMY

0

11

96

100

0

€61,428.63

220

98

NS

0

1

62

13

0

€71,834.97

49

22

AC

0

0

5

0

2

€10,519.00

47

5

2017

ARMY

0

5

105

146

0

€55,277.19

227

103

NS

1

3

29

15

0

€33,462.80

41

8

AC

0

3

3

3

2

€20,493.50

36

12

2016

ARMY

0

3

85

117

0

€66,650.98

223

101

NS

0

2

40

6

0

€29,236.00

46

9

AC

0

0

1

0

2

€ 7,910.00

33

11

2015

ARMY

0

5

68

45

0

€94,262.48

238

82

NS

1

2

27

4

0

€41,564.47

35

6

AC

0

2

5

0

1

€11,625.00

43

7

2014

ARMY

0

1

25

95

0

€10,982.50

180

78

NS

1

0

15

4

0

€34,705.00

32

7

AC

0

1

4

0

0

€26,775.00

30

8

DEFENCE FORCES DISCHARGES

Year

Service

Discharge by Purchase by Rank*

Amount received by the Department from Discharge by Purchase

Voluntary early retirement**

Other Discharges incl retirements on age grounds***

SGT

CPL

PTE

RECRUIT

APPRENTICE

2013

ARMY

0

1

24

76

0

€23,643.30

186

75

NS

0

0

15

5

0

€ 8,830.00

47

7

AC

0

2

2

0

0

€ 7,149.00

24

5

2012

ARMY

0

2

28

86

0

€19,491.75

487

54

NS

0

0

12

9

0

€14,157.75

61

3

AC

0

0

2

9

0

€ 4,368.71

45

5

2011

ARMY

0

0

35

37

0

€19,435.00

352

92

NS

0

0

13

3

0

€10,695.00

73

3

AC

0

2

6

9

0

€13,076.50

46

12

2010

ARMY

0

2

24

2

0

€10,190.00

315

84

NS

0

0

8

1

0

€ 4,665.00

37

3

AC

1

0

6

0

0

€26,788.88

35

9

There are a range of reasons why personnel retire from the Defence Forces.
*Discharge by purchase occurs when a Non Commissioned Officer or Private elects to leave the Defence Forces and pays an appropriate sum to discharge, in accordance with Defence Force Regulation A10 Para 61 (3). Recruits can also elect to discharge by purchase and a significant proportion of recruits, approximately 22% on average, depart from the Defence Forces during the training phase for various reasons.
Monetary sums in relation to discharge by purchase are assessed on a case by case basis depending on years of service, undertaking etc. The guidelines associated with determination of the amount payable on discharge are contained within DFR A10 Para 58(H), DFR A10 Para 61 and DFR A15 Para 19(2). The validation of some data required a manual search of records and the discharge payment records for 9 Army personnel (6 Pte and 3 Recruit) is estimated and subject to minor amendment.
**Voluntary early retirements occur when personnel wish to end their service at break points before reaching the mandatory retirement age limit for his/her respective rank. These retirements occur at the persons own request, at his/her request after 12 years, expiry of PDF service, on pension after 21 years, or on termination of engagement.
***Other discharges include retirement on age grounds, death, below medical standards, service no longer required, or unlikely to become effective.
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