Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 354: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will introduce a timeframe for the recruitment of personnel to the Defence Forces; the number of retirements within the Defence Forces that are envisaged before the end of 2011; if vacancies that arise will be filled with current applicants who applied before the embargo on public service recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20102/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Military Authorities have advised that it is envisaged that a total of 49 Officers and 237 Enlisted Personnel will retire or be discharged from the Permanent Defence Force in 2011. Recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force was suspended in late 2008 pending a review of the best means by which to achieve the reduction of 3% in payroll costs that had been applied, in common with other areas of the public service, to the Defence Forces. The present position is that, within the context of consolidating the public finances, the Government is focused firmly on maintaining the operational efficiency of the Defence Forces. To this end, targeted recruitment was carried out in 2010 and 2011 based on a competition initiated in 2010. All previous applications for recruitment within the system had been terminated at the end of 2009 and applicants were advised accordingly.

The Military Authorities have advised that to the end of June 2011 a total of 277 General Service Recruits have been enlisted. There are no plans for further general service recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force at this time. There will be an intake of 30 cadets from the Cadetship Competition in 2011 and a number of technical appointments will also be filled. With the support of the Chief of Staff and within the resources available, I intend 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 both at home and overseas.