Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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1328. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide a comparative breakdown of Defence Force personnel from 2009, prior to the introduction of cuts arising from the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts of 2009 to 2015 and the public service stability agreement 2013-2018, the Lansdowne Road agreement, with current levels. [12836/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Following a comprehensive review of expenditure commenced in 2011 , the Government decided to stabilise the strength ceiling of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) at 9,500 personnel. A major reorganisation of the Defence Forces was initiated, encompassing the consolidation of three under-strength Army Brigades into two full-strength Brigades. The decision to reorganise the Defence Forces was not motivated by the requirement to achieve direct savings. The purpose of the reorganisation was to maximise the operational capacity, effectiveness and efficiency of the Defence Forces within the available resource envelope.

I can confirm that at 31 December 2009 the strength of the Permanent Defence Forces was 9,906 and at 28 February 2017 the strength was 9,070.