Ken O'Flynn
Question:
185. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the number of trained pilots, aircrew, and technical staff assigned to each aircraft type within the Air Corps; the current vacancy rates; and the policy measures in place to ensure alignment between staffing levels and operational fleet requirements. [27818/26]
View answer
It has not been possible to provide a response within the time frame available. I will respond to the Deputy when the information requested is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Orders.
I refer to the above-referenced Parliamentary Question 185 of 16th April 2026.
A Strategic Workforce Plan for the Defence Forces is under development and will be submitted to me shortly for consideration. Work on the plan commenced in December 2025 and the Defence Forces advise that the plan will deliver a forecasting tool to assist in mapping and projecting a “flight path” to key workforce targets and to LOA2. As part of this, a number of recommendations will be submitted to me for consideration, in relation to supply pipeline and demand requirements. The operational fleet requirements will feed into the output of this plan.
Specific details on current staffing levels in operational Squadrons of the Air Corps are not released for operational security reasons, and I am therefore not in a position to provide specific details to you on this subject.
However, in terms of overall numbers, as of the 21st April 2026, there was a strength of 99 qualified pilots which amounts to 93% of establishment. The strength of aircrew appointments stood at 49 or 68% of establishment and the strength of Aircraft Technicians within the Air Corps across all units stood at 161 or 50% of establishment. Importantly, these figures do not include significant numbers of personnel currently in training across all fields.
A number of Air Corps competitions are currently being progressed and will be launched shortly.
