M. J. Nolan
Ceist:605 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Defence when it is proposed to recruit to the Defence Forces. [1197/96]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Recruitment.
In July 1995 the Government announced its response to the report of the Efficiency Audit Group (EAG) on its review of the Defence Forces and published a document detailing the EAG report and setting out the Government's approach to the reorganisation.
The Government indicated that they accepted the general thrust of the EAG report. It was also stated that an implementation group would be established to draw up detailed and fully costed proposals to implement a first phase plan covering the next three years. This plan would be based on the reorganisation of the Permanent Defence Forces on the basis of a three brigade structure with a total manpower level of 11,500. The strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 12,745 on 31 December 1995.
The required reduction in the manpower level to 11,500 over the three years of the first phase plan will be achieved by means of a voluntary early retirement scheme combined with a programme of recruitment of young personnel.
I expect that the implementation group's detailed proposals, including proposals for a recruitment programme, for the first phase of the plan will be submitted to me in the very near future. I will be giving careful consideration to those proposals before submitting them to Government.