Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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838. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide up-to-date figures for the strength of the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Forces with regard to all three services; if he will provide the gender breakdown of same according to rank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13152/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 31 January 2014, the latest date for which figures are available, was 9,198, broken down into 7,403 Army, 775 Air Corps and 1,020 Naval Service. 556 (or 6.05%) are women. The tables contain the above mentioned strength, broken down into Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by gender and rank groupings.

The Reserve Defence Force is currently undergoing a period of reform and reorganisation following publication of the Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force in November, 2012. Information in relation to the numbers of effective members of the Reserve Defence Force are currently being compiled following its reorganisation. While this process is ongoing as records from units are updated and reconciled on the personnel management system, it is not possible to provide an up-to-date fully accurate figure for the current strength. The best estimate based on the returns reconciled to date is that the effective strength of the Reserve is in the order of about 2,500.

Army (PDF)

Air Corps (PDF)

Naval Service (PDF)