Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

Within the context of consolidating the public finances, the Government is focused firmly on maintaining the operational efficiency of the Permanent Defence Force, PDF. Government approval was secured in the context of budget 2010 for a level of 10,000, all ranks. This reflects the reductions in personnel recommended in the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes. I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the PDF on 31 May 2010, the latest date for which figures are available, was 9,809, broken down as follows - 795 for the Air Corps, 1,018 for the Naval Service and 7,996 for the Army.

Officials from my Department, together with the military authorities, are in the process of finalising a review of the structures and posts required to meet the operational requirements of the PDF within the reduced numbers for submission to the Department of Finance. This will be completed shortly and discussions will then commence with the Department of Finance to agree an employment control framework for the Defence Forces. Once the framework has been agreed with that Department, sanction for promotion will be delegated to the Department of Defence, with ongoing control monitoring by the Department of Finance on a monthly basis to ensure compliance with the overall parameters and controls set by the Government for each sector. It will be necessary to underpin the re-organisation with the required amendments to regulations and administrative instructions.

While these are challenging times, my priority is to ensure that the Defence Forces are organised, equipped and staffed in a manner that will ensure they can continue to deliver the services required of them by the Government. I am advised that, at this time, the Defence Forces retain the capacity to undertake the tasks laid down by the Government at home and overseas.

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