Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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43. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the strength of the Permanent Defence Forces; the breakdown by rank across the three services; the gender breakdown of same in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40474/19]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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45. 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. [40476/19]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 45 together.

The following table illustrates the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, by service and by gender, and the number of new recruits, in total and by gender, as at 31st August 2019: -

While inductions take place at various stages throughout the year, there is normally an accelerated intake of personnel in the last quarter. The Defence Forces continues to implement its recruitment plan throughout 2019, targeting General Service Recruits, Cadets and specialists for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service.