Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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132. To ask the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces plan to have a recruitment drive for the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2900/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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.Targeted recruitment has taken place so as to maintain the level of 9,500 personnel and to ensure the operational capacity of the Defence Forces. As the Permanent Defence Force is currently below the agreed stabilised strength of 9,500, it is intended that targeted recruitment will continue within the resource envelope allocated to Defence.

It is too early to say when a new General Service Recruitment campaign specifically for the Air Corps will take place. When a new Air Corps recruitment campaign is launched, details will be made available on the Defence Forces website .

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.