Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Defence if the Irish Army will be recruiting more soldiers in 2013 or 2014. [10424/13]

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 fulfill all roles assigned by Government. The Military Authorities have advised that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 31 January 2013, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,313 comprising 7,472 Army, 790 Air Corps and 1,051 Naval Service personnel.

Following on from the 2012 recruitment campaign, 539 General Service recruits were enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force. It is intended that further general service recruitment will take place from the existing competition panel during 2013. No decisions have yet been made with regard to recruitment in 2014.

All recruitment will be achieved within the resource envelope allocated to Defence.