Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 January 2014
605. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if and when further recruitment to the Defence Forces, including the Permanent Defence Force and Reserve Defence Force, will be contemplated with a view to ensuring optimum strength; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55293/13]
View answerI am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 30 November 2013, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,286, comprising, 7,478 Army, 775 Air Corps and, 1,033 Naval Service personnel. Recruitment of personnel to the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps is determined in line with the operational requirements of each of the three services. As the Permanent Defence Force is currently below the agreed stabilised strength of 9,500, it is my intention that targeted recruitment will continue within the resource envelope allocated to Defence. It is planned to run a new General Service recruitment competition in the first half of 2014. Details will be made available on the Defence Forces website www.military.ie when the competition commences.
As regards the Reserve Defence Force, work is continuing on the implementation of the reorganisation and the development of the single force concept and a review of the number of active members of the RDF is currently being compiled. In addition, the criteria for participation in the RDF are being reviewed and updated and a recruitment plan is being developed. I anticipate that consideration of these issues will be completed in the near future. With the support of the Chief of Staff and within the resources available, I intend to retain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks laid down by Government both at home and overseas.
