Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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748. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the payroll savings as a consequence of the reduced manning levels of the Defence Forces being below establishment in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the items these monetary savings have been applied to, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42469/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Permanent Defence Force (PDF) pay subhead on the Defence Vote is fully funded to meet the pay costs of the approved strengthof 9,500 personnel. Numbers have fallen below the approved strength in the period referenced despite ongoing recruitment to the PDF. Historically high levels of recruitment are currently being pursued, with 690 personnel recruited in 2016 and over 800 personnel due to be taken in by the end of this year. These numbers include general service recruits, apprentices, cadets and direct entry officers.

Payroll savings have arisen on the PDF pay subhead of the Defence Vote as follows:

Permanent Defence Force (PDF) Pay Estimate and Outturn from 2012 to 2017

Where payroll savings have arisen due to numbers falling below the target strength, these savings, and savings from other subheads, have been used to fund priority projects in various other subheads, in accordance with strategic policy objectives, as outlined in the White Paper.