Defence out of step as hundreds of posts filled

THE DEFENCE Forces have been effectively exempted from the public sector recruitment moratorium, with recruitment now at levels not seen since before the economy collapsed, The Irish Timeshas learned.

Minister for Justice and Defence Alan Shatter has said recruitment will continue in 2012. The renewed full-scale recruitment has occurred without any media attention.

Other Ministers may now seek similar concessions to the moratorium from Minister for Finance Michael Noonan, which could cause Cabinet tensions in the lead-up to the budget.

Unions will also be likely to put pressure on the Government to fill vacancies in other areas, particularly frontline services. For example, in the justice sphere, for which Mr Shatter is also responsible, there has been no Garda recruitment since 2009 and only 14 promotions this year across the 14,000-strong force.

This is despite departures from the Garda set to reach 500 this year, almost twice the level seen in recent years.

A total of 290 new personnel have already been recruited across the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps since the start of the year and a further 240 will be hired this month and next.

This level of recruitment has not been seen since 2007, when 565 recruits were taken in.

The full strength of the Defence Forces has traditionally been 10,500. This fell to 9,500 after there was no recruitment in 2009 and only 115 hirings last year.

The Irish Timesunderstands Mr Shatter has secured an exemption from the moratorium by arguing if numbers fell any lower, the Defence Forces would not be able to meet overseas peacekeeping duties and domestic obligations.

Some 478 personnel left the Defence Forces this year, with at least three-quarters going early rather than on age grounds. This has necessitated accelerated recruitment to keep numbers stable at 9,500.

Military sources said the increase in early departures has arisen because hundredswanted to leave before the end of February, after which any public sector worker who retires will see their pension cut in line with recent pay cuts. Of the nearly 500 who have left this year, just over 300 departed from low-paying posts, with those who filled them likely to be significantly affected in their retirement by any reduction to their pensions.