How We Are Organised
The Defence Forces are organised on conventional military lines providing a sufficiently flexible structure to carry out all the roles assigned by Government. The Defence Forces consist of a Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and a Reserve Defence Force (RDF). The former is a standing force and provides the primary capabilities for joint military operations at home and combined military Peace Support Operations abroad. The RDF provides the necessary contingent conventional military capability to augment and assist the PDF, when necessary. The Permanent Defence Force consists of an Army, an Air Corps and a Naval Service.
The Minister for Defence has an office in the Department of Defence (DOD) and Defence Forces (DF) Headquarters building which is located on Station Road in Newbridge. The Defence Forces Chief of Staff liaises with the Minister for Defence on all Defence related matters.
The Defence Forces Chief of Staffs office is located in the DOD/ DF HQ building on Station Road, Newbridge. The Chief of Staff can liaise directly with his Deputy Chiefs of Staff, DCOS Ops and DCOS Sp, who are co-located in the HQ building. The Minister for Defence and the Secretary General of the Department of Defence are also located in the HQ building.
The Southern Brigade is responsible for military operations in the south of the country. Its area of responsibility includes the counties of: Carlow, Clare, Cork, Kilkenny, Kerry, Laois, Limerick, Tipperary, Wexford and Waterford. HQ of the 1st Southern Brigade (Bde) is located in Collins Barracks, Cork. The other Barracks located in the Southern Bde area of responsibility (AOR) include Sarsfield Barracks in Limerick, Kickham Barracks in Clonmel, Stephens Barracks in Kilkenny and Kilworth Training Camp in Kilworth.
The Eastern Brigade is responsible for military operations in the East of the country. Its area of responsibility includes the counties of: Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath, Wicklow. HQ of the 2nd Eastern Bde is located in Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines, Dublin 6. Other Barracks located within the Eastern Bde AOR include McKee Barracks on Blackhorse Avenue, Dublin 7, Gormanstown Camp in Co Meath, Aiken Barracks in Dundalk and St Bricins Military Hospital in Dublin 7.
The Western Brigade is responsible for military operations in the West of the country. Its area of responsibility includes the counties of: Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath. HQ of the 4th Western Bde is located in Custume Barracks, Athlone. Other Barracks located in the Western Bde AOR include Columb Barracks, Mullingar, Finner Camp in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa in Renmore, Galway and Dún Uí Neill in Cavan.
The Defence Forces Training Centre (DFTC) is located in The Curragh Camp in Co Kildare. The DFTC consists of a HQ element, The Military College, The Combat Support College, The Combat Service Support College, The Logistics Base Curragh and The DFTC Supply and Services Unit. The following DF Reserve Units are also located in the DFTC, B Company, 3rd Infantry Battalion, Army Ranger Wing (ARW) 1st Armoured Car Squadron and the Air Defence Regiment (ADR).
The Air Corps is the air component of the Permanent Defence Forces, based at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, Co. Dublin. Today, approximately 750 men and women serve in the Air Corps, each making a unique and significant contribution to fulfilling the roles, both primary and secondary as assigned by government. HQ of the Air Corp is located in Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, Dublin 22.
The Naval Service is based on Haulbowline Island. It has an authorised maximum strength of 1,144 personnel and comprises a flotilla of eight ships. The key characteristics of the Naval Service flotilla are those of a rapid reaction, flexible and multi-capable force able to sustain the maximum number of patrol days within the constraints of the resources available. HQ of the Naval Service is located in Haulbowline, Cobh, Co Cork.
