Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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221. To ask the Minister for Defence the personnel numbers in the Permanent Defence Force as of 1 March 2016 broken down by the Army, Air Corps and the Naval Service. [5296/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As of 29^t February, 2016 (the latest date for which figures are available), the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 9,146 personnel (whole time equivalent). This comprised of 7,329 Army personnel, 744 Air Corps personnel and 1,073 Naval Service personnel.

The manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services. Significant turnover of personnel, which is the norm in military services, requires targeted recruitment so as to maintain personnel numbers at or near the agreed strength levels.

The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at or close to the establishment figure 9,500 personnel. 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 assigned by Government both at home and overseas.