Defence Forces Strength

Tuesday, 5 November 2019

Ceisteanna (93)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

93. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the strength of each branch of the Defence Forces, including the Naval Service Reserve; and the strength of same in each of the years from 9 March 2011 to date. [45169/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

I am informed by the military authorities that it was not possible to collate the required information within the timeframe available. I shall provide the figures to the Deputy when I receive them from the military authorities.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to the above-referenced Parliamentary Questions and my original reply stating that it was not possible to collate the required information within the timeframe available. I am now in a position to do so and have outlined the reply to these Questions below:

The military authorities advise that they are unable to provide some information you requested, namely:

- Current Unit Strengths - these are not releasable for operational reasons.

- The requested historical strength of the Military Police is not available.

However, the military authorities have provided the following information:

Table 1 illustrates the year end strengths (Whole Time Equivalent) of Brigade 1 and Brigade 2 in each of the years since October 2012 to date.

TABLE 1

Year	1 Brigade	2 Brigade
2012	2,221	3,465
2013	2,366	3,456
2014	2,378	3,428
2015	2,345	3,302
2016	2,303	3,275
2017	2,287	3,245
2018	2,269	3,197
2019	2,008	2,896
2020*	1,911	2,951

*as at 31st May 202

Table 2 details the yearly strength of each branch of the Permanent Defence Force and the Naval Service Reserve from 2011 to 2019 and the strength as at 31st May 2020:

Year	Army (WTE)	Air Corps (WTE)	Naval Service (WTE)	Naval Service Reserve (Effective)
2011	7,650	791	997	146
2012	7,510	791	1,058	140
2013	7,434	779	1,023	155
2014	7,457	766	1,057	143
2015	7,309	748	1,083	138
2016	7332	704	1,090	122
2017	7,386	734	1,053	124
2018	7,243	725	989	133
2019	7,002	721	936	139
2020*	6,837	727	887	122

*as at 31st May 2020

In 2012 the Government decided to stabilise the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) at 9,500 personnel and this was further reflected in the White Paper on Defence (2015). While the Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining this agreed strength, the capacity of the Defence Forces to induct and train recruits has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 situation. This has resulted in the postponement of the majority of inductions in the year to date.

The Defence Forces remain committed to optimising the number of personnel inducted during 2020. In that context, the military authorities have advised that they are currently finalising plans to re-commence General Service training and recruitment, taking public health guidelines into account. A campaign to re-enlist former members of the Permanent Defence Force, to fill certain vacancies, is also underway.

In addition, the report of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) of 2019 contains a range of recommendations aimed at improving work-force planning, recruitment and conditions of service for members of the Defence Forces. A High Level Plan to give effect to the recommendations of the PSPC is being implemented.

It should be noted that as the High Level Implementation Plan contains short, medium and long term measures, the full impact of these measures will take time to determine. There are also a range of external variables which impact on recruitment and retention and which can change and these will be carefully monitored to assess their effect as they arise.