Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 7: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has completed his consideration of the possibility of the recruitment of an additional 1,000 personnel to the Defence Forces, which he referred to in his speech to the annual conference of PDFORRA in Tralee on 10 October 2007. [27731/07]

Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister did not mention this in his speech and is not currently considering the possibility of the recruitment of an additional 1,000 personnel to the Defence Forces.

The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 set out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force, as the strength sufficient to meet all foreseeable military requirements for the period comprehended by the White Paper, that is, up to 2010. This remains the position. It is intended to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces. This recruitment will continue to maintain the strength at the level set out in the White Paper.

To facilitate the Defence Forces in maintaining strength at 10,500 An Agreed Programme for Government provides for an additional provision of up to 350 troops to be in training, at any given time. The military authorities and the Department are considering the planning and resources necessary to meet this provision.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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I accept that this was not contained in the Minister's speech. However, he was reported as speaking at the conference and that is the context in which it is being raised at this stage. This came, on the suggestion of PDFORRA, against the background of a greater role for the Irish Defence Force in international peacekeeping. We dealt with the fact that additional personnel will be required by the Naval Service when the new vessels come on stream. At this stage, is the Minister saying there is no particular consideration within the Department in terms of increasing the current figure of 10,500?

Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The issue was not referred to by the Minister in his speech, but there was an informal press gathering and the Minister responded to a suggestion from PDFORRA that the Defence Forces strength be increased by 1,000. He made it clear that there would be no immediate revision of the Permanent Defence Force, PDF, numbers. It is Government policy that the current strength of 10,000 is sufficient to meet all militarily needs. The Minister pointed out, however, that a review of Government policy on strengths might be included as part of the preparation of a new White Paper. An Agreed Programme for Government contained a commitment to the preparation of a new White Paper on Defence for the period 2011-2020. It can be expected that this White Paper will review the defence and security environment and the role and capability of the Army, Naval Service, Air Corps and reserves. That is the focus on which the Minister and I should like to concentrate. All of these issues can be looked at in the new White Paper. We are satisfied that we have adequate personnel at the moment, approximately 8,400 in the Army, 850 in the Air Corps and 1,068 in the Naval Service. We maintain that these figures are adequate while saying that the position can be reviewed in the new White Paper.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I welcome the Minister of State's answer on the Minister's speech. On the putative figure of 1,000 more personnel, that would represent a major cost to the Exchequer and I would be concerned about this. The present figure of 10,500 is adequate for our current needs. Will the Minister of State accept that if we were to employ 1,000 extra personnel, it would be better to employ public servants in terms of frontline services such as health, education, disabilities and to provide help for cystic fibrosis patients, for instance? Will he agree that should be our focus over the next two to three years?

Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the Deputy. The strength of 10,500 as stipulated in the White Paper was determined after a good deal of analysis of all the relevant factors. This included a programme of reform and reorganisation to ensure "that Ireland has a world class military organisation". I am satisfied the Defence Forces have the capacity to deal with the changes that have taken place in the defence and security environment since the publication of the White Paper. I have been very fortunate as a Minister of State in various areas, in particular to have experienced the work the Defence Forces do abroad. The White Paper provides for the allocation of up to 850 members of the Permanent Defence Force to be deployed overseas at any one time. While this may be exceeded for short periods, deployment above this level is not sustainable on an ongoing basis within existing resources.

We have had a good discussion on Chad and if we get to it, there may be further discussion. Any commitments to an EU or UN mission will be met within this context. It is important to maintain the high standard and fantastic quality of the work we do. It is best to do this with the types of numbers we have provided for. At present, some 460 members of the Permanent Defence Force are deployed overseas. Clearly, that will increase if we become involved in Chad, as I hope we will. Certainly, we will look at this issue in the context of the next White Paper.