Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
908. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the current total strength of Air Corps personnel; and if he will provide a breakdown of the number of qualified military pilots, cadet pilots in-training, qualified military aircraft maintenance technicians, qualified military avionics technicians and military apprentices in-training of both the Defence Forces and the Naval Service. [29657/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Air Corps, as at 9 June 2022, is 748 wholetime equivalent personnel.
The table below shows the strength by requested stream:
|
Personnel Stream |
Strength as at 09/06/2022 |
|
Qualified pilots |
97 |
|
Cadets currently completing military training* |
6 |
|
Young officers in pilot training |
15 |
|
Qualified Military Aircraft Technicians |
166 |
|
Qualified Military Avionics Technicians |
31 |
|
Apprentice Military Aircraft Technicians |
66 |
*Cadets are scheduled to commence their Pilot Wings course once they graduate as Officers.
A Military Aircraft Technician (MAT) is an individual who has qualified from an Air Corps apprenticeship, or a direct entrant deemed to have the appropriate qualifications to work on aircraft in the various maintenance roles. Personnel in these roles cover the broad range of disciplines within the Air Corps e.g. avionics technicians, aircraft mechanics, crew leaders, and aircraft inspectors.
All MATs are employed in the maintenance of aircraft. At any one time, they may be employed in any of the broad range of maintenance disciplines, be in training, or serving overseas. The total number of qualified MATs is therefore inclusive of those who may be assigned to avionics duties, or any of the other disciplines, at any one time.
As outlined, there is a strong training pipeline for MATs consisting of 66 apprentices. Of these apprentices, all 66 are undergoing their qualification process and will, on successful completion, be streamed into rotary, fixed-wing or avionics technician categories. The military authorities advise that while there are other schemes conducted under the auspices of the national Generation Apprenticeship Scheme through SOLAS, in addition to other technical training schemes, the Air Corps Aircraft Technician scheme is the only Defence Forces scheme strictly defined as an apprenticeship.
My focus remains on retaining/restoring all branches of the Defence Forces to their full capacity. Furthermore, consideration of the recommendations of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces is ongoing. I intend to revert shortly to Government with a proposed response to those recommendations and a high-level action plan, which will set out proposed timelines and oversight arrangements for its implementation.
