Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 24: To ask the Minister for Defence the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to continue the ongoing policy of annual recruitment and maintain the present establishment. [20168/08]

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 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. To date, in 2008, a total of 168 general service recruits have been enlisted and 1 Doctor has been appointed to the Permanent Defence Force. 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.