Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Defence if it is anticipated that an increase in the strength of the Army, Navy and Air Corps is warranted, in view of the likely overseas commitments with the EU or the UN; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24264/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Defence the strength, rank and gender, of the Army, Navy and Air Corps; if further recruitment is intended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24265/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Defence if an increase in strength in the Defence Forces is contemplated with a view to improved air and sea surveillance to enhance the detection of drugs consignments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24266/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Defence the total strength of the Army, Navy and Air Corps reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24270/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Defence if it is intended to increase the strength of the army, navy and air corps in line with requirements necessitated by the posting of personnel overseas having particular regard for likely requirements in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24272/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 209, 210, 211, 215 and 217 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 Defence Forces continue to have a proactive approach to all aspects of recruiting.

The strength of the Permanent Defence Force, the number of female personnel by rank and the strength of the Reserve Defence Force, as advised by the military authorities, is provided in the form of a Tabular Statement, which I propose to circulate with the Official Report. The figures provided are as at 30 April, 2006.

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 Stand-by 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 no plans to increase the numbers serving in the Defence Forces above the levels provided for in the White Paper.

Responsibility for the prevention of drug trafficking and other such illegal activities rests primarily with the Garda Síochána and the Revenue Commissioners. The White Paper on Defence provides for a security role for both the Naval Service and the Air Corps to assist and support the civil authorities in this important work. While the main day to day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union, Government measures to improve law enforcement in relation to drugs, (including the establishment in 1993 of a Joint Task Force involving the Gardaí, the Customs Service and the Naval Service), have helped to maximise the effective use of Naval Service resources in combating drug trafficking. The Air Corps provide air support and on occasion carry the Customs National Drugs Team in an observation capacity, for the purpose of monitoring vessels suspected of drug trafficking or other such illegal activities.

There is close co-operation between the civil authorities and the Naval Service and the Air Corps in this important area. I am satisfied that the extent of Naval Service and Air Corps reconnaissance, in conjunction with the Gardaí and the Customs Service, has had a major and beneficial impact in deterring drug trafficking and other such illegal activities.

Lt Gen = Lieutenant General

SM = Sergeant Major

Maj Gen = Major General

BQMS = Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant

Brig Gen = Brigadier General

CS = Company Sergeant

Col = Colonel

CQMS = Company Quartermaster Sergeant

Lt Col = Lieutenant Colonel

SGTS = Sergeants

Comdt = Commandant

CPLS = Corporals

Capt = Captain

NCOS = Non Commissioned Officers

Lt = Lieutenant

PTES = Privates