Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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274. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he plans to examine the current accommodation requirements of the Defence Forces given that An Garda Síochána are recruiting a head of estate management. [25171/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Defence Forces Built Infrastructural Programme 2020-2025 was published in January 2020. This Programme, which is a 5 year plan, provides a blueprint for investment in the Defence Forces built infrastructure over a multi annual timeframe. It is expected that some €145m will be expended on implementng the Plan. In addition, the Deputy may wish to note that my Department has allocated €10m this year to the Defence Forces for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of its building stock . This is a devolved budget and the individual prioritisation of specific projects is solely a matter for the Defence Forces in keeping the delegated nature of this budget. I am satisfied that the current approach towards building maintenance together with the implementation of the 5 year Plan will ensure the modernisation of the building stock.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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275. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will establish a commission to consider gender quotas and equality of opportunity within the Defence Forces. [25172/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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It is Government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces in order to increase capability and to better reflect the society from which the Defence Forces are drawn and serve.

I am committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. This commitment is exemplified in the Defence Forces Equality Policy and the Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan.

As of 31 March 2021, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) stood at 8,524 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) personnel. Of this some 598 personnel or 7.02% were female, broken down as follows:

- Army: 493 Female Personnel

- Air Corps: 40 Female Personnel

- Naval Service: 65 Female Personnel

In line with current policies and commitments, a number of initiatives are in place to increase the level of female participation in the Permanent Defence Force. For example:

- Special consideration is paid to women as a target group for recruitment within the general recruitment framework in that current campaigns reach out to females via a variety of channels, including social media, sporting organisations and schools.

- A Gender Equality and Diversity Officer has been appointed to promote gender equality policies and training within the Defence Forces. In addition, a gender-equality perspective is applied in the planning and execution of operations both at home and overseas and in all policies and regulations. Gender Advisors are available to all Brigades and Services and trained Gender Focal Points are deployed with all overseas units and ships in order to promote the gender perspective in operations.

- A Defence Forces Women's Network is established with the aim of increasing the participation of female personnel at all levels of the organisation.

Over the lifetime of the White Paper on Defence, a number of projects will be progressed to ensure the development and promotion of strategies that continue to support increased female participation in the Defence Forces.

In addition, a review of recruitment practices and processes in the PDF, tasked under the High Level Implementation Plan arising from the Public Service Pay Commission report, has additionally examined all aspects of the recruitment process, including diversity, as part of its work. It is anticipated that this report will be finalised shortly.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Commission on the Defence Forces, as part of its terms of reference, will set out a strategic perspective on all HR policies, and associated strategies in light of the prevailing dynamics of the labour market, while remaining consistent with public sector pay and personnel policy

The Commission is due to issue its report at the end of the year. There are currently no plans to establish a commission to consider gender quotas and equality of opportunity within the Defence Forces.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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277. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which the strength of the Defence Forces has been augmented with a view to maintaining optimum strength; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4470/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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290. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the degree to which the optimum strength of the Defence Forces is being met to date or is likely to be in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25471/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 290 together.

The military authorities have advised that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (whole time equivalent), as at 31st March 2021 (the latest data available), was 8,524 personnel comprised of:

- Army 6,885

- Air Corps 739

- Naval Service 900

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). However, 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

In order to achieve this target, as well as a broad range of retention measures, there is significant on-going recruitment. This will continue throughout the year and includes General Service Recruits, Cadets, Aircraft Apprentice Technicians and Direct Entry Specialists. As of 30^thApril 2021, 149 personnel have been inducted.