Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Defence the strength of the Naval Service at 1 July 1997 and 1 January 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6712/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 119 together.

The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force, comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army. It is my intention to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces. Recruitment into the Permanent Defence Force will continue to maintain the strength at the level set out in the White Paper as required to meet military needs. The strength of the Permanent Defence Force, comprising the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, as of 1 July 1997, 1 July 1998 and 1 January 2005 was as follows:

In addition, there were 258 recent recruits undergoing training on 1 January 2005.