Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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527. To ask the Minister for Defence the number of additional recruits the Defence Forces have taken on to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32386/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The military authorities advise that the Defence Forces have not inducted any new recruits to date in 2014. However, it is the intention of the Permanent Defence Force to recruit 400 personnel in 2014. This recruitment is planned for the latter half of 2014. In relation to the Reserve Defence Force, the military authorities had intended to recruit up to 500 personnel to the Reserve in 2014. However, because of a disappointing response to the recruitment campaign this will not now be possible and it is now planned to recruit up to 250 personnel to the Reserve this year.