Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Defence the current strength of the Army; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8689/07]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Defence the current strength of the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8690/07]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Defence the vacancies in the Naval Service; the establishment of the Naval Service and the strength of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8916/07]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Defence the current strength of the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8691/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 299: To ask the Minister for Defence if it is intended to increase the strength of the Naval Service with a view to catering for increased responsibilities in respect of air-sea rescue and coastal surveillance to combat the importation of drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9147/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 305: To ask the Minister for Defence if it is intended to increase the strength of any or all of the Defence Forces in view of the likely demands for overseas deployment in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9153/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 88, 94, 102, 122, 299 and 305 together.

The White Paper on Defence of 2000 provides for a Permanent Defence Force strength of 10,500, comprising 8,426 for the Army, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 930 for the Air Corps. It is my intention to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces. Recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force will continue to maintain the strength at the level set out in the White Paper as required to meet military needs. The Defence Forces continue to adopt a proactive approach to all aspects of recruiting.

The strength of the Permanent Defence Force on 31 January, the latest date for which detailed figures are available, as advised by the military authorities, was 10,426. This comprises 8,492 in the Army, 859 in the Air Corps and 1,075 in the Naval Service. There were, therefore, 69 vacancies in the Naval Service at that date. A detailed breakdown of the numbers in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by rank are in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to circulate to the Deputy. The Permanent Defence Force manages recruit intakes so as to keep its annualised monthly average strength at or around 10,500.

The White Paper on Defence provides for an allocation of up to 850 Permanent Defence Force personnel to be deployed overseas at any one time through the United Nations Standby Arrangements System, UNSAS. While this may be exceeded for short periods, deployments above this level are not sustainable on an ongoing basis within existing resources. Any commitments to EU or UN missions will be met within this context. There are 808 Permanent Defence Force personnel deployed overseas. This figure includes 165 personnel deployed to UNIFIL in Lebanon.

I am satisfied the current strength is adequate to meet all needs arising at home and overseas.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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One of the issues I have raised with the Minister is the concept of increasing the retirement age of the officer corps. This is particularly applicable those at the rank of lieutenant-colonel, a high percentage of whom are serving overseas. With the increased commitments of the Defence Forces, there may be a shortage of that rank at home. In addition, much expertise has been acquired at that stage of service. We are considering increasing the public service retirement age, given that life expectancy is higher. Those serving at the rank of commandant must retire at 56 years and retire on full pension. Therefore, there is not a huge cost saving. Does the Minister agree it is regrettable that this expertise is lost?

Owing to the recruitment policy of the Defence Forces with regard to cadetships in the early 1970s, a number of officers are caught at certain ranks. It is not a huge number. Rather, it is a blip that will last a number of years. Will the Minister consider reviewing the age limit? Will he seek to identify areas where the personnel concerned could work? The monetary cost involved would be minimal.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I accept the Deputy's point but it is not just a question of cost. Similar arguments are often made with regard to experienced members of the detective branch of the Garda Síochána. When an officer reaches a certain age, he or she knows where to look when a crime is committed. Nevertheless, such officers must retire at that age and their expertise is lost. There are certain upper retirement ages in the Army officer class because outstanding young people are coming through at the moment. I met outstanding people of the rank of captain and lieutenant in the Lebanon who had an expectation of achieving a certain rank by a certain age, which is their entitlement. We cannot increase the age limits of any ranks at the moment because to do so would slow the process even more.

I take Deputy Timmins's point about the ageing of the population and the position in the Civil Service. I have seen several cases of young Army officers, highly educated and full of zeal and enthusiasm, who left the Army and we lost their expertise because the promotional prospects were not sufficiently good. Age limits are continually under review but I have no plans at present to make any changes in that regard.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I agree with the Minister to the extent that when I suggested a review of the age limit it was not in the context of blocking promotion for lieutenants or captains because it is very important they have a career path which is not blocked by people being kept on. Could a streaming mechanism be put in place for people caught in this age trap? It would only have to last for four or five years and would not have an impact on the promotional opportunities of those behind them.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I will look into whether it can be done and will talk to the relevant people.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Will the Minister not reconsider the numbers in the Permanent Defence Force? I am aware the White Paper indicated a number of 10,500 but it made provision for that to be increased. We have substantial United Nations commitments but we could only send 155 members to the Lebanon because any more would have exceeded the 10% limit about which we spoke. We also take part in battle groups so does the Minister not feel that, given the current requirements of our Permanent Defence Force abroad, we could usefully look again at reviewing the upper limit?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The current number is based on the White Paper. We decided to reduce the numbers in the Army by approximately 1,000 and to put the savings made into better training and equipment, which we have done. It was envisaged that the situation would continue for the duration of the White Paper until the end of 2009 and there are no plans to change the maximum strength of the Army until that point.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Irish population has grown significantly because of immigration. Dr. Tom Clonan, a man who always makes sense, said an effective Army should always be drawn from the population. Does the Minister agree that, with our population now quite diverse, we need people from different backgrounds for the Army to be effective? What are the plans to increase the complement of people from different backgrounds in the Army? In the context of a rising population would it not make sense to head in that direction?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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People from different backgrounds can join the Army — one does not have to be an Irish citizen.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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According to Dr. Clonan the situation is very bad.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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At the moment that is the case. However, some changes have recently been made to the cadet competition which will open the door to refugees, nationals of EEA states and nationals of any other state who have been lawfully present in Ireland for five years, among others. If somebody who is not an Irish citizen applies to become a cadet it requires special clearance from the Minister but, unequivocally, I have no objection to the idea and would not hesitate to clear them, provided they met the other criteria. I am conscious of the need to ensure the officer ranks of the Army reflect the population as closely as possible and we are working to that end.