Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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80. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which retirements and resignations in the Defence Forces have been replaced with a view to ensuring an adequate management structure throughout; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9728/19]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The number of personnel inducted and departing can vary significantly from year to year. The manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services.

The 2019 recruitment campaign for the Defence Forces has already commenced with the first of these, the Naval Service General Service Recruit competition, having closed on 21 January. The 2019 recruitment plan proposed by the Permanent Defence Force envisages some 800 new entrants being inducted, comprising of General Service Recruits, Apprentices, Cadets and Direct Entry Officers.

With the support of the Chief of Staff, I remain committed to maximising recruitment to ensure that the Defence Forces are staffed in a manner that will enable them to continue to deliver the services required of them by Government.