Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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125. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the expected number of recruits who will be taken into the Defence Forces in 2018. [55190/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the White Paper on Defence (2015), the Government is committed to maintaining the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel.  Recruitment to fill vacancies will take place during 2018 and this will be informed by levels of turnover during the course of the year.

The Defence Forces will be conducting recruitment campaigns for General Service Recruits, Cadets, Apprentices and Direct Entry Officers during the year.  At this point it is not possible to predict precise numbers that will be recruited, but it is anticipated that this will be in the region of 800 personnel.