Displaying items by tag: Skilled shortages

6th September 2021

Personnel in Defence Forces Drops 338 In Just Seven Months

In July, the Naval Service had 878 at that stage, when it should have 1,094.

An exodus in personnel from the Defence Forces (incl. the Naval Service) is continuing, with latest figures showing 338 have gone in the first seven months of this year and 86 recruits who quit during training.

On average, 700 personnel have been discharged every year for the past five years and it appears that 2021 will be no different as traditionally more personnel seek a discharge in the latter months of the year.

The latest figures for June and July, supplied to the Irish Examiner by the Defence Forces, show a further 102 trained personnel left the country's military, with the army again suffering the most.

Of the 58 who left in June, 49 were in the army, three in the Air Corps, and six in the Naval Service.

In July, a further 44 left. Of those, 31 were in the army, five in the Air Corps, and eight in the Naval Service.

During June, 16 recruits quit the Defence Forces during training and a further seven bailed out in July.

The minimum strength for the army is 7,520, whereas it had fallen to 6,912.

The Air Corps numbers stood at 729, but is supposed to be 886. It is suffering from a shortage of skilled technicians.

The Naval Service had 878 at that stage, when it should have 1,094.

Ships have been tied up as a result of crew shortages and there's a critical shortage in particular of specialists, such as marine engineers, engine room fitters, medics and communication personnel.

Click here for further coverage.

Published in Navy

Tagged under

Irish Sailing

The Irish Sailing Association, also known as Irish Sailing, is the national governing body for sailing, powerboating and windsurfing in Ireland.

Founded in 1945 as the Irish Dinghy Racing Association, it became the Irish Yachting Association in 1964 and the Irish Sailing Association in 1992.

Irish Sailing is a Member National Authority (MNA) of World Sailing and a member of the Olympic Federation of Ireland.

The Association is governed by a volunteer board, elected by the member clubs. Policy Groups provide the link with members and stakeholders while advising the Board on specialist areas. There is a professional administration and performance staff, based at the headquarters in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

Core functions include the regulation of sailing education, administering racing and selection of Irish sailors for international competition. It is the body recognised by the Olympic Federation of Ireland for nominating Irish qualified sailors to be considered for selection to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games. Irish sailors have medalled twice at the Olympics – David Wilkins and Jamie Wikinson at the 1980 games, and Annalise Murphy at the 2016 games.

The Association, through its network of clubs and centres, offers curriculum-based training in the various sailing, windsurfing and powerboating disciplines. Irish Sailing qualifications are recognised by Irish and European Authorities. Most prominent of these are the Yachtmaster and the International Certificate of Competency.

It runs the annual All-Ireland Championships (formerly the Helmsman’s Championship) for senior and junior sailors.

The Association has been led by leading lights in the sailing and business communities. These include Douglas Heard, Clayton Love Junior, John Burke and Robert Dix.

Close to 100 sailors have represented Ireland at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Membership of Irish Sailing is either by direct application or through membership of an affiliated organisation. The annual membership fee ranges from €75 for families, down to €20 for Seniors and Juniors.