Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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49. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the position regarding the new Army recruitment campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44069/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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217. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress to date in respect of proposed recruitment to the Defence Forces; the way in which each branch of the Defence Forces is likely to benefit from the recruitment programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44250/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 217 together.

The Government is committed to maintaining the establishment 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.

The manpower requirements of the Permanent Defence Force are monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with the operational requirements of the three services. Personnel are posted on the basis of operational need across the organisation both at home and abroad. As there is a significant turnover of personnel in the Defence Forces, targeted recruitment takes place on a regular basis so as to maintain personnel numbers at or near the agreed strength levels.

There is significant ongoing recruitment at both enlisted and officer level and it is anticipated that 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.

The latest general service recruitment, which is currently ongoing since 27 September 2017 and closes on 27 October 2017, reflects the Government’s commitment to meeting the Permanent Defence Force strength targets.

It is too early to be specific as to where new recruits will be posted but  all areas of the Permanent Defence Force will benefit from this new campaign.

With the support of the Chief of Staff, it is intended to continue to recruit new personnel in order to ensure that the Defence Forces retain the capacity to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks laid down by Government, both at home and overseas.