Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
298. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the interim measures in place to maintain operational capability in the Air Corps pending completion of the Strategic Workforce Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34132/26]
View answerA draft Strategic Workforce Plan prepared by the Defence Forces has recently been submitted to me for consideration. This plan and its accompanying recommendations, including those pertaining specifically to each of the three services, will be evaluated fully over the coming weeks. The aim of the plan is to provide a pathway to the achievement of a strength of 11,500, inclusive of civilian personnel, commensurate with Level of Ambition 2.
As Minister for Defence, maintaining the operational capability of the Air Corps remains a priority for me pending the finalisation of this plan. Several interim measures have been implemented to support personnel retention and recruitment in the past number of years including the three-year extension of the Air Corps Pilot Service Commitment Scheme and its further extension to include qualified Air Traffic Control personnel.
Critically, these interim measures are designed to ensure that the Air Corps continues to provide essential operational capability based on the immediate needs of the State. The Air Corps maintains a constant 24/7/365 state of readiness to deliver essential life-saving and security missions. This operational capability ensures that the Air Corps remains fully responsive to the evolving requirements of the State from critical aeromedical support and maritime surveillance to national security operations as we transition toward the enhanced capacity outlined in Level of Ambition 2.
