Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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37. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the strength of the Permanent Defence Forces with regard to all three services and ranks; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18203/19]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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39. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of additional recruits the Permanent Defence Forces have taken on to date in 2019 with regard to all three services; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18205/19]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 39 together.

The following table provides the latest figures available for

- the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) (as at 31st March 2019)

- Total 2019 inductions (as at 11 April 2019). 

In addition, 2 Direct Entry Medical Officers (male) were inducted during this period along with a female member of the PDF who was awarded a Cadetship in the Air Corps in March 2019. 

The Defence Forces continue to implement a policy of equal opportunity for men and women.

The Government remains committed to on-going recruitment to the Defence Forces to reach the establishment level of 9,500 personnel as set out in the White Paper on Defence 2015 and it is anticipated that some 800 personnel will be inducted in 2019.