Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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72. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which recruitment to the Defence Forces remains ongoing; the number recruited to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9720/19]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Government remains committed to on-going recruitment to increase the strength of the Permanent Defence Force to the establishment level of 9,500 personnel.

In 2018, this resulted in 611 new entrants being inducted in addition to 15 Permanent Defence Force members being awarded a Cadetship.

The 2019 recruitment campaign for the Defence Forces has already commenced. The recruitment plan proposed by the Permanent Defence Force envisages some 800 new entrants being inducted in 2019, comprising of General Service Recruits, Apprentices, Cadets and Direct Entry Officers.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the Defence Forces retain the capacity to operate effectively across all roles.