Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied that he can continue to maintain the current strength of the Army, Navy and Air Corps notwithstanding cost cutting arising from the memorandum of understanding entered into by his predecessor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13578/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 31 January 2013, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,313. This is against the agreed stabilised strength for the Permanent Defence Force of 9,500. In this context it is my intention that targeted recruitment will continue within the resource envelope allocated to Defence.Targeted recruitment will ensure that into the future the Permanent Defence Force can continue to deliver all operational outputs required by Government in the domestic environment as well as for overseas peace support operations. The full spectrum of Defence Forces personnel and equipment, is also available for deployments in response to emergencies and crises.