Arising from the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, the Government stabilised the strength ceiling of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel. In response, I initiated a major re-organisation of the Defence Forces both permanent and reserve. It is not viable to retain a three brigade structure within a strength ceiling of 9,500 personnel. Accordingly, the re-organisation encompasses a reduction in the number of Army Brigades from the current three to two. Details of the re-organisation were announced by me earlier this week in a press release published on the Department of Defence website. This clarified the position with regard to An Chéad Chathlán Coisithe, which is retained as a full infantry battalion in the new organisational structure for 9,500 personnel.