Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I understand that at the end of February there were in excess of 7,500 personnel enlisted in the Permanent Defence Forces. This is just over 4,000 short of the ambition outlined in the programme for Government. We need to increase enlistment by 50%, which is a substantial target to achieve. Would the Tánaiste have any indication at this stage when he would hope to at least get the enlistment above the 8,000 figure because it is important that we get back to a critical enlistment across all aspects of the Permanent Defence Forces?

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