Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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116. To ask the Minister for Defence the current strength of the Defence Forces, male and female, at all ranks; the degree to which the strength of the Defence Forces is likely to fluctuate over the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21330/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The following tabular statement sets out the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 30 April, 2015, the latest date for which figures are available, broken down by rank and gender. The figures provided are for whole time equivalent posts.

The total serving strength across all three services as of 30 April, 2015 was 9,112 (comprising of 553 or 6.1% female and 8559 or 93.9% male). The establishment figure for the Defence Forces is 9,500.

The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at or near 9,500 personnel, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service.

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 and subsequent years to allow the Government meet this commitment in relation to the stabilised strength.