Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 504: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to provide apprentice place in the Air Corps in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8019/10]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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As I have already stated in the House within the available resources, I am committed to maintaining the strength of the Defence Forces at a level of 10,000 all ranks, for which I have secured Government approval in the context of Budget 2010. This reflects the reductions in personnel recommended in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes.

I am advised by the Military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as at 31 December, 2009 was, 9,933 comprising 8,095 Army, 801 Air Corps and 1,037 Naval Service.

As the numbers in the Permanent Defence Force have dropped below 10,000, recruitment will be carried out in 2010 in order to bring the numbers back to this level. Details of the recruitment campaign for 2010 in relation to the numbers of general service recruits, Air Corps apprentices etc. are not yet available. Planning for this process is underway and will be prioritised based on the operational requirements of the Defence Forces.