Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 people, comprising 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service personnel. I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 30 September 2014, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,200 comprising 7,413 Army, 757 Air Corps and 1,030 Naval Service personnel. The personnel requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services. As there is significant turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force, targeted recruitment has been and is taking place so as to maintain the agreed strength levels.

General service recruitment will continue in 2015 from the recruitment panels formed from the current general service recruitment competition launched in March 2014. Some 441 recruits have been enlisted to the Army and Naval Service to date, of which 385 remain in training. The intake of cadets into the Permanent Defence Force is normally carried out on an annual basis taking into consideration the operational requirements of the Defence Forces and the resource envelope allocated to the Department of Defence. It is too early to say what the requirement for an intake of cadets in 2015 may be.

Direct entry competitions are held as required from which specialist appointments are filled. A competition for the recruitment of five engine room personnel for the Naval Service is currently under way, with a closing date of 14 November 2014. A competition for the appointment of doctors remains open with applications being accepted on an ongoing basis. A Reserve Defence Force, RDF, competition was also launched in March 2014. As a continuation of this campaign, the Defence Forces are currently accepting applications for the RDF until 14 November 2014. Future recruitment into the RDF will be informed by RDF strength figures.

With the support of the Chief of Staff and within the resources available, it is intended to retain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks laid down by Government both at home and overseas. On the 21-year rule, I would refer the Deputy to a very long and detailed answer I gave on that issue earlier.

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