Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Defence the maximum strength proposed for the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence; when he proposes to reach it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38186/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Defence if it is intended to increase the strength of the Permanent Defence Forces, Army, Navy and Air Corp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38180/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 47 together.

The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 set 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 and the Defence Forces continue to have a proactive approach to all aspects of recruiting. 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 Defence Forces as at 31 December in the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively was 10,498, 10,551 and 10,446.

The strength of the Permanent Defence Force on 31 October 2006, as advised by the military authorities was 10,357. A detailed breakdown of the numbers in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by rank is in the form of a Tabular Statement which I propose to circulate with the Official Report.

There is a planned total intake of 255 personnel (Cadets, Apprentices & General Enlistment) before the end of 2006, with an expected outflow of 150 personnel in the same period. Recruit intake will be finalised in December 2006 to ensure that the annualised monthly average strength is at or around 10,500.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Defence if he proposes to restore the 250 training appointments granted to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38185/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The White Paper on Defence set the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 10,500. It also provided that the Chief of Staff could maintain an additional 250 in training at any one time. This latter provision was withdrawn in 2003 as part of the Government Decision on managing public service numbers and there are no plans to restore it.

The strength of the Permanent Defence Force on 30 September 2006, the latest date for which detailed figures are available, as advised by the military authorities was 10,383.

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 Defence Forces manage recruit intakes to keep its annualised monthly average strength at or around 10,500. The strength of the Defence Forces as at 31 December in the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively was 10,498, 10,551 and 10,446.