Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is the Government's intention to maintain the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500, the optimum level to fulfil all roles assigned by government. In this context of the current strength being below the agreed strength as indicated, targeted recruitment is taking place within the resource envelope available to the Department. I am very much aware of the Deputy's concerns in the area about bringing strength to 9,500 personnel but I state again that this depends on fluctuating levels of people leaving from year to year. I cannot say at the start of a recruitment process that X number will leave and they must be replaced. We do our best-----

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