Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has proposals to augment the strength of the Defence Forces all ranks male and female; if he will augment, upgrade or otherwise enhance military and vehicular equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6374/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 616: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will increase the strength of the Army, Navy and Air-Corp with particular reference to the need to maintain specific strength during Irish troop deployment overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6781/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 616 together.

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 my intention to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces. This recruitment will continue to maintain the strength at the level set out in the White Paper.

The agreed Programme for Government provides for an additional provision of up to 350 troops to be in training at any given time. However, due primarily to the requirement to prioritise funding for the Chad mission, it has not been possible to provide funding to activate this provision in 2008. 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. 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.

The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces continues to be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. Significant investment has taken place in recent years across all facets and elements of the Defence Forces. This investment has been assisted by pay savings arising from the reduction in the strength of the Permanent Defence Force in the context of the White Paper, which have been fully re-invested in the provision of equipment and infrastructure for the Defence Forces.

From the Army's perspective the major investment has been in the contracts for Mowag Armoured Personnel Carriers. In the period from 2001 to 2007 the Defence Forces acquired a total of eighty Mowag APCs, manufactured in Switzerland, at a cost of €120m. The APCs have been used extensively on overseas service and will be in operational service in Chad.

It is expected that a tender competition for the purchase of Light Tactical Armoured Vehicle will be initiated over the next three months. A sum of some €6m is provided in the 2008 provision to allow for a down payment under a contract in the latter part of this year.

There has also been a substantive programme for the acquisition of modern transport vehicles over the years. Acquisitions include Nissan patrols, minibuses, Ford transits, heavy load carrying vehicles (Drops) and specialist EOD vehicles.

In recent years, significant work has been carried out on the acquisition of an Integrated Protection and Load Carrying System. This system includes Body Armour, Helmets, Rucksacks and Battle Vests. 8000 units of Body Armour, 12,000 Helmets and 12,000 Rucksacks have been delivered in recent years at a combined total cost of €13.5m.

To complete the modern integrated protection and load carrying system, an order has been placed for the supply of 12,000 Battle Vests at a cost of some €2.2m. The Battle Vests are used for the carriage of essential items such as ammunition, personal radio, water and ancillary equipment. The order will be completed by the second half of 2008.

The level of investment in military equipment has ensured that Defence Force's personnel have the most modern and effective range of equipment to carry our their day-to-day roles both at home and overseas and for training purposes and I will ensure that this investment will continue into the future.