Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 November 2018
97. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the target date for the Permanent Defence Forces to reach its approved strength of 9,500; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48384/18]
View answerThe Government remains committed to achieving the strength target of at least 9,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force, as set out in the White Paper on Defence (2015). 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.
Recruitment has continued in 2018 with the running of two General Service recruit competitions, a Cadet competition, apprentice competitions, instrumentalist competition and direct entry streams. This has resulted in over 600 personnel being inducted to date in 2018. The most recent figures, provided by the military authorities, give the whole time equivalent strength of the Permanent Defence Force as just below 9,000 personnel. Further inductions are scheduled in November and final figures for numbers inducted in 2018 and strength will not be available until year end. Recruitment progress will be reviewed in the coming weeks and this will inform future plans.
The Government is committed to retaining 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.
