Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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55. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his recruitment plans for 2018; the extent to which it is planned to increase the strength of the Defence Forces in the course thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10389/18]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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69. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the allocation to his Department for the purposes of recruitment of Defence Forces personnel in 2018; and if he has requested an additional allocation to meet the costs of recruitment in the Defence Forces. [10204/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 69 together.

It is anticipated that in the region of 800 personnel, comprising of General Service Recruits, Apprentices, Cadets and Direct Entry Officers will be recruited to the Permanent Defence Force in 2018. A competition for Air Corps Aircraft Technicians was launched on 2 March 2018 and plans for the initiation of further competitions are currently being finalised.

The White Paper on Defence sets out the roles assigned to the Defence Forces by the Government and the associated capability requirements. The Government is committed to maintaining the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, as set out in the White Paper on Defence, and has provided sufficient funding for this strength level.