Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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33. To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which the strength of the Defence Forces remains adequate throughout the country notwithstanding the restrictions arising from the economic situation; the extent to which the required operational strength and command structures of the Army, Navy and Air Corps remain adequate at all installations throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5573/14]

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 December 2013, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,236, comprising 7,434 Army, 779 Air Corps and 1,023 Naval Service personnel. This is against the agreed stabilised strength for the Permanent Defence Force of 9,500.

I am satisfied that the required operational strength and command structures of the Army, Navy and Air Corps remain adequate at all installations throughout the country. In this regard I am satisfied that the Permanent Defence Force is sufficiently resourced from a strength perspective to continue to deliver required operational outputs for all approved Aid to the Civil Power and approved Aid to the Civil Authority requests and that it can continue to meet Government requirements 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.

However, having regard to the fact that the current strength of the Permanent Defence Force is below the agreed stabilised strength, it is my intention that targeted recruitment will continue in 2014 within the resource envelope allocated to Defence. For example, 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.

As regards the Reserve Defence Force, work is continuing on the implementation of the reorganisation and the development of the single force concept and a review of the number of active members of the RDF is currently being compiled. In addition, the criteria for participation in the RDF are being reviewed and updated and a recruitment plan is being developed. I anticipate that consideration of these issues will be completed in the near future.