Minister of State Fergus O'Dowd has said recruitment of up to 600 staff for the Defence Forces will commence this year.
He said the intention is to bring the forces up to the target level of 9,500 members from the current level of under 9,000.
Mr O'Dowd would not be drawn on when the recruitment would begin, but said it would happen as soon as possible.
He confirmed that 551 members left the Defence Forces between 1 January and 29 February.
Mr O'Dowd said vacancies at the level of Major General and Brigadier General had been filled and procedures were in place to ensure that other vacancies were filled.
Mr O'Dowd was taking defence questions in the Dáil in place of Minister for Defence Alan Shatter.
