Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has plans to increase the strength of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20203/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has plans to increase the strength of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, having particular regard to overseas commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20539/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 230 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.