Written answers
Tuesday, 12 July 2022
Department of Defence
Defence Forces
Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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528. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of vacant posts for doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and dentists in the Defence Forces Medical Corps as of 5 July 2022; and when each of these vacancies will be filled in tabular form. [37375/22]
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the military that the current number of vacancies for each of the requested positions are as follows:
| Position | Vacancies | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Dentist | Four | A recruitment process for Defence Forces Direct Entry Dental Officers is ongoing, with a list of applicants currently under consideration for the role. |
| Doctor | Six* | Medical Officer positions are advertised and processed on an ongoing basis. A list of Direct Entry applicants are currently under consideration for the role of Medical Officer in the Defence Forces. |
| Nurse | N/A | The Employment Control Framework for the Defence Forces provided in the past for 14 Army Nursing Service (ANS) staff. However, these positions are not included in the 9,500 Permanent Defence Force establishment. A review of the ANS is currently ongoing and will provide recommendations on the future of the Service. |
| Physiotherapist | N/A | Following a previous review of the DF Physiotherapy service, sanction was received to appoint 5.5 civilian physiotherapists on a full-time basis. There are currently 4.5 vacancies in this regard. However, these positions are not included in the 9,500 Permanent Defence Force establishment. |
(*The overall figure comprehends four individuals who are currently undertaking the Military Medicine Training Scheme).
Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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529. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of current staff vacancies in each section of the Defence Forces, namely, the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps, in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37702/22]
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The following table details the variance between the agreed strength and the strength of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, as existed on 31st December each year between 2019 and 2021 and on 31 May 2022:
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Army | 518 | 600 | 690 | 850 |
| Air Corps | 165 | 140 | 135 | 158 |
| Naval Service | 158 | 192 | 219 | 249 |
I have previously acknowledged the ongoing challenges in relation to recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces. I have also previously emphasised the Governments ongoing commitment to returning to the agreed strength and, in that context, a number of initiatives are being implemented to counter current staffing challenges and will play a role in restoring and retaining capacity.
Furthermore, the work of the Commission on the Defence Forces included, inter alia, consideration of staffing, recruitment and retention. I received Government approval today to move to Level of Ambition 2, as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces. Government also approved a High Level Action Plan which sets out the response of Government in relation to each of the 130 recommendations in the Commission's report.
Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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530. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of instances in which members of the Army Ranger wing accompanied and-or provided security to an Taoiseach and or Ministers outside of the State in 2021 and to date in 2022. [37897/22]
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Close protection teams comprising members of the Army Ranger Wing (ARW) are assigned to accompany members of Government, where warranted, on visits to overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are deployed.
I can confirm that members of the ARW accompanied and provided close protection to the Taoiseach and/or Ministers on visits outside of the State in 2021 and to date in 2022 on the following three occasions:
- In July 2021 and in December 2021 the ARW provided security protection for my visits to Irish troops serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
- In May 2022 the ARW provided security protection for the visit of the Taoiseach, accompanied by me, to members of the Defence Forces deployed to UNIFIL.
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