Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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172. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on when Army Recruitment will commence in the coming year. [21900/13]

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 fulfil all roles assigned by Government. The Military Authorities have advised that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 31 March 2013, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,189 comprising 7,375 Army, 781 Air Corps and 1,033 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. All recruitment will be achieved within the resource envelope allocated to Defence.