Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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171. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of the strength of the Defence Forces for each of the past 20 years. [8543/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) as at 31 December in each of the last 20 years is contained in the attached table.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the strength figures for the period 1994 - 2012 include personnel who were on secondment to, and being paid by other organisations, or on career breaks. The 31 December 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.