Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind the Deputy that fewer than 117 people, out of a total of 9,219 or 9,220 whole-time equivalent members, are in receipt of family income supplement in the Defence Forces. It is totally untrue to say there is a large number, or a high percentage, of people in the Defence Forces in receipt of family income supplement. This information is also in the public domain.

The Deputy referred to the large number of people leaving. The number is above average for the past number of years but there is always a high turnover in the Permanent Defence Force and it is nothing new in the Defence Forces. There is a budget for 9,500 personnel and I spelled out the increases we have given. I am not sure if the Deputy was listening but we went through a recession from 2011 to 2016. On this side of the House, we have to mind the pounds, shillings and pence and to act in a prudent way.

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