asked the Minister for Defence relative to the subhead for pay and allowances in the abridged Book of Estimates for 1989, the number of (a) officers and (b) other ranks provided for throughout 1989.

Limerick West): It is presumed that the Deputy is referring to the strength of the Permanent Defence Force. Subhead B of the Defence Estimate for 1989 provides for an average strength of 1,575 officers and 11,400 other ranks of the Permanent Defence Force.