Mary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for Defence when he plans to introduce recruitment again to the Naval and Defence Forces; and if so, the dates and numbers and so on. [21371/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Within the available resources, the Government is committed to maintaining the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at a level of 10,000 all ranks, for which Government approval has been secured 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 30 April 2010 was 9,856 comprising 8,036 Army, 797 Air Corps and 1,023 Naval Service personnel. As the Deputy will be aware I have recently approved the recruitment of 40 Recruits for the Naval Service. The recruitment competition for the Naval Service commenced on Friday 14 May 2010 and will close on Friday 4 June 2010. Further recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force along with issues relating to promotions and acting appointments are kept under ongoing review.

I intend, with the support of the Chief of Staff and within the resources available, to retain the capacity of the organisation to operate effectively across all roles while contributing to the necessary public service economies. 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.