Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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48. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to introduce retention policies to reduce the numbers leaving the Permanent Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43800/17]

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the action that will be taken to address the significant reduction in officer numbers in the Defence Forces since 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43995/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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68. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which the strength of the Defence Forces - Army, Naval Service and Air Corps - continues to be replenished to ensure the maintenance of optimum strength; if particular recruitment proposals are in mind to deal with situations arising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43978/17]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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72. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the numbers serving in the Permanent Defence Forces at present; the projected numbers serving at the end of 2017; the numbers projected for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43799/17]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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74. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the way in which he plans to address the staffing shortages in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44031/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 63, 68, 72 and 74 together.

The Government is committed to maintaining the establishment of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel. The rank distribution within the 9,500 PDF establishment was set in 2012 on foot of a reorganisation of the Defence Forces. The White Paper on Defence (2015) confirmed that this organisational structure continues to meet Defence needs. A key challenge is to fill vacancies within the establishment and reach the 9,500 strength ceiling. As of 30 September 2017, the strength of the PDF was 9,062 (Whole Time Equivalent).

Due to the robust nature of military life, placing as it does unique physical and psychological demands on individuals, it is not unusual that there should be a turnover of personnel in the Defence Forces, and this is not unique to the Irish Defence Forces.

A range of recruitment methods are being employed including direct entry competitions for specialist positions and the scope to further expand direct entry is being considered. I have also directed civil and military management to develop terms and conditions to allow former members of the Defence Forces, with sought after skills, to return to service. I anticipate that these will be brought to the Representative Associations in the coming weeks through the C&A process.

The fact that further consideration by the Public Service Pay Commission of recruitment and retention issues is provided for under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020, is also to be welcomed. The Defence Forces are working hard to maximise the recruit intake and I am informed that the projected inductions for 2018 are anticipated to be similar to the 2017 induction rate.

There is significant ongoing recruitment at both enlisted and officer level and it is anticipated that approximately 800 new personnel will have been inducted into the Permanent Defence Force during 2017. This includes general service recruits, apprentices, cadets and direct entry officers. As the panel from the general service recruitment campaign held earlier this year has now been exhausted, a further recruitment campaign is under way with a closing date of the 27th October 2017.

I remain committed to maximising recruitment to the Defence Forces and ensuring that, where possible, the terms and conditions of service are as favourable as they can be within the current budgetary parameters.