Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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95. To ask the Minister for Defence the number of additional recruits the Defence Forces have taken on so far in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20922/15]

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 in 2015, from the recruitment panels formed from the current General Service recruitment competition, launched in March 2014. It is planned that these panels will remain in place until they are exhausted. No recruits have been taken into the Defence Forces so far in 2015. It is too early to say when this recruitment will commence, as this is dependent on the operational requirements of the Defence Forces and the budget allocation for Defence.A Naval Service recruitment campaign is underway for 2015.

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.