Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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560. To ask the Minister for Defence if he expects recruitment for the armed forces to re-commence; the date on which this might happen; the application process involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49078/13]

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 30 September 2013, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,188 comprising 7,379 Army, 784 Air Corps and 1,025 Naval Service personnel. The September 2013 strength figures have been calculated on the basis of actual numbers serving on that date, excluding those members who are on secondment to, and being paid by other organisations, or on career breaks. All future strength figures will be calculated on this basis. General Service recruitment recommenced in September 2013, from the existing competition panels, from which it is expected there will be an intake of approximately 400 recruits. In addition 20 Apprentices for the Air Corps and 15 Engine Room Artificers for the Naval Service are due to be recruited from current competitions. As the Permanent Defence Force is currently below the agreed stabilised strength of 9,500, it is my intention that targeted recruitment will continue within the resource envelope allocated to Defence. It is planned to run a new General Service recruitment competition in the first half of 2014. Details will be made available on the Defence Forces website when the competition commences.

Application for recruitment to the Defence Forces is conducted on-line and all correspondence is conducted via e-mail. Candidates must successfully complete psychometric testing, fitness testing, and interview in order to progress through the competition. Following these stages of the recruitment process, successful applicants may be placed on panels and offered a position, subject to successfully completing a medical examination and obtaining Garda Siochána Security Clearance.