Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Defence the reason for the extra 600 vacancies in the Defence Forces; the context under which the agreement was made that the number of serving cadre be 9,500; the cost implications for the recruitment of 600 army personnel; the reason the €85 million from the closure of barracks was ringfenced to be spent on the defence sector meanwhile barracks were being closed across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44618/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Government has decided to accept my recommendation that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force will be maintained at 9,500. I believe this is the optimum strength required to fulfil all roles currently assigned by Government. The Military Authorities have advised that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 31 August 2012, the latest date for which details are available, was 8,838 thus requiring the recruitment of approximately 600 personnel to maintain the agreed Permanent Defence Force strength of 9,500. This recruitment of approximately 600 personnel will be achieved within the resource envelope allocated to Defence.

The consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective in the ongoing defence modernisation programme and has been recommended in many reports over the past number of years. This was a key consideration of Government in addressing barrack closures as releasing personnel from security and support functions enables the operational capacity of the Defence Forces to be maintained notwithstanding the fall in strength.

For example military personnel occupied on security and support functions within the four barracks closed on 30th March 2012 have been released for operational duties leading to an efficiency gain of around €5 million per annum. In addition, there are direct cash savings of approximately €1.3 million per annum arising from savings on utilities, maintenance and security duty allowances in the four barracks.

Since 1998 a total of 14 barracks have been closed. The total amount realised to date in terms of sales of surplus property is approximately €84m. This, together with income of approximately €18m from the sale of other smaller military properties and married quarters has been re-invested in providing equipment and infrastructure for the Defence Forces. This approach is in line with the 2000 White Paper on Defence and the Government decision of February 2000 which approved the use of revenue arising from the sale of property surplus to military requirements for investment in equipment and infrastructure for the Defence Forces.