Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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15. To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which recruitment throughout the Defence Forces is likely to affect the strength respectively in the Army, Navy and Air Corps; if this will be sufficient to replenish the numbers following retirement or on completion of service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25787/14]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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130. To ask the Minister for Defence the progress to date in respect of proposed recruitment to the Defence Forces; the way each branch of the Defence Forces are likely to benefit from the recruitment programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26338/14]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 130 together.

The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, 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 30 April 2014, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,110, comprising, 7,338 Army, 764 Air Corps and, 1,008 Naval Service personnel.

The manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored on an ongoing basis. 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. In line with HR policy there is significant turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force. Targeted recruitment has been and is currently taking place so as to maintain the level of 9,500 trained personnel and to ensure the ongoing deployable capacity of the Defence Forces on operations.

To this end, a new General Service recruitment competition was launched in March 2014. The Defence Forces plan to induct up to 400 enlisted personnel to the Permanent Defence Force in 2014 within the resource envelope allocated to Defence.

In addition, a Cadetship Competition for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is currently under way. It is planned to award a total of 40 Cadetships from this competition comprising of 20 Army, 9 Air Corps and 11 Naval Service Cadetships. An Air Corps Apprentice Trainee Technician competition was also launched in May 2014, from which it is planned to recruit 20 Apprentice Trainee Technicians this year.

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.