Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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45. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his recruitment plans for 2019; the extent to which he plans to increase the strength of the Defence Forces in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9415/19]

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 with the recent Naval Service General Service Recruit competition, which closed on 21 January 2019.

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 maximising recruitment and so retain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles