Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for Defence the strength of the Defence Forces by rank and gender; if increases are contemplated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3273/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The strength of the Permanent Defence Force on 31 December 2006, the latest date for which detailed figures are available, as advised by the military authorities was 10,479. A detailed breakdown of the numbers in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by rank and gender are in the form of a Tabular Statement attached. The Tabular Statement also provides the comparable details for the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve.

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

There is a planned total Permanent Defence Force intake of 670 personnel (Cadets, Apprentices and General Enlistment) before the end of 2007.

The strength of the Reserve Defence Force was 9,264 as at 30 November 2006, the last date for which figures are available. This figure comprises 8,893 in the Army Reserve and 371 in the Naval Service Reserve.