Written answers

Wednesday, 11 December 2013

Department of Defence

Defence Forces Recruitment

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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19. To ask the Minister for Defence if and when further recruitment to the Defence Forces might be contemplated; the degree to which the strength of each sector continues to be monitored with a view to ensuring optimum strength at all times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52881/13]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The agreed stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force is 9,500 comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service. I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 31 October 2013, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,222 comprising 7,422 Army, 778 Air Corps and 1,022 Naval Service personnel.

Recruitment of personnel to the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps is determined in line with the operational requirements of each of the three services. As a rule there is significant turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force. Targeted recruitment has been and is currently taking place so as to deliver an ongoing aggregate level of 9,500 trained personnel and to maximise the deployable capacity of the Defence Forces on operations. 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.

With the support of the Chief of Staff and within the resources available, I intend to retain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks laid down by Government both at home and overseas.

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