Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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38. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current strength of each branch of the Defence Forces; the extent to which numbers have been augmented to ensure maintenance of adequate strength throughout the forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24744/19]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The military authorities have advised that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (whole time equivalent), across all services and ranks, at 30th April 2019 was 8,828 personnel comprised of:

The Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining the agreed strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel as set out in the White Paper on Defence (2015).

In order to achieve this target, there is significant on-going recruitment and such recruitment will continue throughout the year with the Defence Forces recruitment plan working towards a target of 800 new entrants being inducted in 2019 which will include General Service Recruits, Cadets, Aircraft Apprentice Technicians and Direct Entry Specialists.  

The Government remains committed to retaining the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks laid down by Government both at home and overseas.