Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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71. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which the Defence Forces continue to be strengthened in line with established norms and having regard to national and international commitments and responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28038/18]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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79. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the strength of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps and their ability to respond to all emergencies, natural disasters or otherwise that may arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28047/18]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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80. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the strength of each branch of the Defence Forces; the extent to which this is in line with normal expectations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28048/18]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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81. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which the number of women in each branch of the Defence Forces continues to reflect policy in respect of gender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28049/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 79 to 81, inclusive, together.

As of 30 May 2018, the strength (whole time equivalent) of the Permanent Defence Force was 9,010 personnel (95% of establishment), broken down as follows:

- 7,248 Army Personnel (491 Female)

- 715 Air Corps Personnel (30 Female)

- 1,047 Naval Service Personnel (68 Female)

The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. This is underlined by a commitment in the Programme for Government to increase the level of female participation in the Defence Forces. In each of the two general service recruitment campaigns conducted in 2017, approximately 13% of the Applicants were female. The figure for cadet Applicants was approximately 15%.

To date in 2018, female applicants accounted for 14.5% of general service recruitment campaign applicants and 15.9% of cadet applications.

In accordance with the Framework for Major Emergency Management, primary responsibility for responding to emergencies caused by severe weather events, such as storms and flooding, rests with the three designated principal response agencies, namely, the relevant Local Authority, An Garda Síochána, and the Health Service Executive. The Defence Forces provide the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or emergency situation in its Aid to the Civil Authority role. These arrangements have proved effective in all emergencies encountered to date.

There is significant on-going targeted recruitment to ensure that the Permanent Defence Force can continue to deliver all operational outputs required by government both at home and overseas. The recruitment plan proposed by the Defence Forces envisages some 800 new entrants being inducted across all services and competition streams in 2018.

Three competitions recently closed, namely

- A General Service Recruitment campaign

- 2018 Officer Cadetships competition

- Air Corps Apprentice Aircraft Technician Competition

The applications from these competitions are being progressed. A range of other competitions are ongoing.

I remain committed to ensuring that the Defence Forces retain the capacity to operate effectively across all roles required of them by Government at home and overseas.