Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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460. To ask the Minister for Defence the estimated annual saving that has resulted from discontinuing the three brigade structure in the Defence Forces. [20486/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A range of savings measures that were introduced in the years immediately following the onset of the economic downturn in 2008 led to a reduction in the strength of the Permanent Defence Force. Following a comprehensive review of expenditure in 2011, the Government decided to stabilise the strength ceiling of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) at 9,500 personnel.

At this strength level, the then organisational structures were no longer viable and a major reorganisation of the Defence Forces was initiated. This reorganisation was implemented in order to ensure that the Defence Forces could operate efficiently and effectively within the revised strength ceiling of 9,500 personnel and was not focused on achieving savings.

I am confident that the current structures optimise the capacity of the Permanent Defence Force to deliver the required operational outputs, within the available resources.