Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 222: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has taken a decision to downgrade or cut back on the active strength or the budget of Cúltaca an Airm or Cúltaca an tSeirbhís Cabhlaigh. [20546/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service with effect from 27th March 2009 and as with the broader public service, the Defence Organisation is required to operate with reduced funding for 2009. In this context, all recruitment to the Cúltaca an Airm and Cúltaca an tSeirbhís Chabhlaigh was suspended. My first priority was to consolidate the gains that have been made over recent years in developing Cúltaca an Airm and Cúltaca an tSeirbhís Chabhlaigh.

While the budgetary provision for training of members of Cúltaca an Airm and Cúltaca an tSeirbhís Chabhlaigh has been reduced, it will be sufficient to allow all current members to undertake paid training during 2009. I have recently announced the re-commencement of limited recruitment to Cúltaca an Airm and Cúltaca an tSeirbhís Chabhlaigh in order to replace existing members who leave during the course of 2009. This limited recruitment will be closely monitored and kept under review in the light of the uptake of paid training and future budgetary provision available to Defence.