Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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330. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) who was refused entry to the Defence Forces due to a previous conviction and is awaiting contact from the Defence Forces in this regard. [55785/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The military authorities have advised that all applicants to the Defence Forces are required to pass the security vetting stage of the recruitment process. If a concern is highlighted, such as a previous offence, a disclosure is produced by An Gárda Síochána and issued by the Defence Forces to the applicant. The applicant is required to acknowledge that the disclosure pertains to them and that the particulars are correct. Upon completion of this process, a decision is made on the candidate's application and the candidate is informed.

I am further advised by the military authorities that the individual outlined in the details supplied with the question has been informed in the usual manner that they were unsuccessful in their application.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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331. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 31 October 2021 or the latest date available; if he will provide a breakdown of all ranks across the three services and the gender breakdown of same in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56133/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, as at 31 October 2021 is 8,572 whole-time equivalent personnel. The attached table shows the requested breakdown by rank, service, and gender.

The current staffing issues within the Defence Forces have been acknowledged and 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).

A range of actions have been taken to address these issues which includes the projects undertaken to facilitate the implementation of the PSPC Report on Recruitment and Retention, most of which have been completed or are being considered in the context of wider public sector pay arrangements. Other measures include Service Commitment Schemes in the Air Corps, and the Naval Service in which additionally a sea-going naval personnel tax credit introduced in 2020, will be further extended into 2022.

Recruitment initiatives have been, and continue to be, undertaken and recruitment in 2021 has resulted in 577 inductions to date in 2021. The independent Commission on the Defence Forces is also examining a range of recruitment and retention matters and I look forward to receiving their recommendations.

am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, as at 31 October 2021 is 8,572 whole-time equivalent personnel. The attached table shows the requested breakdown by rank, service, and gender.

The current staffing issues within the Defence Forces have been acknowledged and 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).

A range of actions have been taken to address these issues which includes the projects undertaken to facilitate the implementation of the PSPC Report on Recruitment and Retention, most of which have been completed or are being considered in the context of wider public sector pay arrangements. Other measures include Service Commitment Schemes in the Air Corps, and the Naval Service in which additionally a sea-going naval personnel tax credit introduced in 2020, will be further extended into 2022.

Recruitment initiatives have been, and continue to be, undertaken and recruitment in 2021 has resulted in 577 inductions to date in 2021. The independent Commission on the Defence Forces is also examining a range of recruitment and retention matters and I look forward to receiving their recommendations.

">Permanent Defence ForceWTE Strength

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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332. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the strength of the Reserve Defence Force as of 31 October 2021 or the latest date available; if he will provide a breakdown of all ranks across the three services and the gender breakdown of same in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56134/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve (FLR), the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR).

The effective strength of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR), as of 31 October 2021, are set out below:

">Details of Army and Naval Reserves

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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333. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of overseas missions in which the Defence Forces are currently involved; the number of personnel involved in each mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56135/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As of 1 November 2021, Ireland is contributing 566 personnel to 9 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 335 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 136 personnel.Ireland also contributes observers and staff to various United Nations and OSCE missions and personnel to staff appointments at UN, EU, NATO/PfP and OSCE headquarters.

Ireland has always been a strong supporter of the United Nations and UN Peacekeeping. Our commitment and support for the primary role of the United Nations, in the maintenance of international peace and security, is expressed in Ireland's long-standing tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations. This commitment is also expressed in our engagement in the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

Full details of all personnel currently serving in missions overseas are listed in the tabular statement below.

MEMBERS OF THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE SERVING OVERSEAS As of 1 November 2021

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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334. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of new applicants to the Defence Forces that were not offered enlistment due to below standard audiology results 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [56175/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the military authorities that it has not been possible to gather the information requested within the time allotted. I will revert to the Deputy when the information has been gathered.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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335. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the procedure when a potential Defence Forces recruit is asked to obtain an external audiology report in circumstances in which a new recruit presents for medical and a query is raised regarding the audiology result. [56176/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the military authorities that it has not been possible to provide the information requested within the time allotted. I will revert to the Deputy when the information has been received.