Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Defence if it is intended to augment the strength of the Defence Forces with particular reference to anticipated overseas deployments on EU and UN missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34596/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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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 (i.e. up to 2010). This remains the position. It is intended to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces.

The agreed Programme for Government provides for an additional provision of up to 350 troops to be in training at any given time to enable the Defence Forces to maintain a strength of 10,500 fully trained personnel. However, due to the requirement to prioritise funding for the Chad mission, it has not been possible to provide funding in 2008 to increase the approved strength of the Permanent Defence Force. This matter will be further considered in the context of the 2009 Estimates.

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 Standby 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.