Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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59. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when the Defence Forces will reach the goal of 9,500 serving personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30544/19]

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), at 31 May 2019 was 8,751 personnel.

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).

There are a number of factors, some of which are hard to predict, which will impact on the timeframe within which this will be achieved. The report of the Public Service Pay Commission contains a broad range of recommendations which are aimed at enhancing recruitment and retention and restoring the strength level of the PDF. A High Level Implementation Plan has been agreed and is being progressed.