Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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315. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current strength of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps including Reserves; the degree to which the numbers have fluctuated, in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7762/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, 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 as stated in the 2015 White Paper on Defence. As of the 31^stDecember 2016, the strength of the PDF (whole-time equivalent) was 9,126.

Table 1 outlines the extent to which the whole-time equivalent strength of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps has fluctuated over the last five years.

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. Efforts are currently being directed at recruitment in order to return the Defence Forces to their approved establishment. Regular competitions are held for recruitment of enlisted personnel, cadets and other staff.

As of the 31^stDecember 2016, the effective strength of the Reserve stood at 2,049 personnel.

Table 2 sets out the extent to which the effective strength of the Reserve has fluctuated over the last five years. In this regard, a reorganisation and review of the RDF in relation to the classification of active participation of reservists resulted in a reduction in effective numbers.

The 2015 White Paper on Defence sets out a developmental path for the Reserve. It also provides that the overarching establishment of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) is to be set at 4,169 personnel, consisting of 3,869 Army Reservists and for the expansion of the establishment of the four NSR Units from currently 200 personnel to 300.

A key challenge is to recruit and train sufficient personnel to meet the Reserve establishment provided in the White Paper. I am committed to accelerating induction into the Reserve, in tandem with expanded recruitment into the PDF.

Table 1 – PDF Strength Fluctuation

* Strength figures from 2013 on are Whole Time Equivalents

Table 2 – RDF Strength Fluctuation

*2012 & 2013 – Due to the reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Force there is a significantly larger margin of error applicable to these figures.