Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Defence if Irish troops due for deployment overseas are given adequate opportunity to train alongside their fellow peacekeepers prior to deployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42478/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to maintain the strength of the Army, Navy and Air Corps; his further plans to improve, increase or enhance the scale and quality of training and the provision of equipment in line with standards throughout the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42479/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will give an assurance that the training and equipment standards of the Defence Forces will continue in line with best international standards and practices having particular regard for the likelihood of overseas deployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42484/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 139, 140 and 145 together.

The Permanent Defence Force receives ongoing training to enable them to participate fully in UN, EU and other missions overseas. Troops selected for overseas service undergo a rigorous programme of training, designed to help them carry out their peacekeeping mission and to provide for their protection. Pre-deployment training is updated on an ongoing basis in the light of any changes in the threat assessment or mission requirements.

The Defence Forces are also involved in interoperability training and technical developments in co-ordination with UN and EU partners. For example, the Defence Forces took part in Exercise Illuminated Summer in Autumn 2007, as part of the main interoperability exercise, during Ireland's membership of the Nordic Battlegroup 2008. The Defence Forces have also participated in a range of desktop and command post exercises based on realistic peacekeeping scenarios. Defence Forces training is based on and updated in accordance with best practice international training standards.

Ireland, in common with other neutral EU Member States who are members of Partnership for Peace (PfP), participates in the PfP Planning and Review Process (PARP) mechanism for planning in relation to peace support operations. The scope of Ireland's involvement in PARP is focused on enhancing interoperability so that Defence Forces personnel can operate efficiently and effectively in a multi-national environment.

Defence Forces personnel serving on all overseas missions are equipped with the most modern and effective equipment. This equipment enables troops to carry out the mission assigned, as well as providing the required protection specific to the mission. Ongoing threat assessments are carried out in mission areas and we continually review both personal equipment and force assets, to ensure that Defence Forces personnel are appropriately equipped to fulfil their roles. I am satisfied that Defence Forces personnel serving overseas receive, and will continue to receive, the necessary training and equipment to enable them to carry out their duties in a professional manner.

The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army. I am advised by the military authorities that on 31 October 2009, the most recent date for which figures are available, the actual total of the Permanent Defence Force was 10,013, comprising 807 Air Corps, 1,031 Naval Service and 8,175 Army personnel. In the context of the Government decision on the implementation of savings measures on public service numbers and the reduced budgetary provision available for 2009, all recruitment, promotions and appointments to acting positions were suspended.

My focus at this point in time is on ensuring that the Defence Forces retain operational capability. I am acutely aware of the impact of the moratorium on the Permanent Defence Force, particularly in light of the very high turnover rate that is part of any military organisation. I am in ongoing contact with my colleague, the Minister for Finance, regarding limited exceptions to the moratorium, which are targeted at maintaining the operational capability and command arrangements of the Permanent Defence Force. To date I have succeeded in achieving sanction to fill a number of key posts, including Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations), two Brigadier-General posts, Director of Military Prosecutions as well as achieving agreement to recruit 42 cadets for which the competition has recently been run. In addition, sanction was granted for 42 acting appointments for our mission to Chad and 20 for Kosovo.

I am advised that at this time the Defence Forces retain the capacity to undertake the tasks laid down by Government at home and overseas and the situation is being monitored on an ongoing basis.