Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Defence the strength of the Permanent and Reserve Defence Forces; if there are proposals to increase the strength of these forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12336/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Defence his intentions to increase the strength of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12682/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 254 together.

The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force, comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army. It is my intention to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces. Recruitment into 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 strength of the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force as of 28 February 2005 was as follows:

Recruitment is ongoing to the Reserve Defence Force.