asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the number of recruits who (a) made application for admittance to the Army from the 1st January, 1951, to the present date; (b) were accepted; (c) were rejected for lack of physical fitness; and (d) were rejected on educational grounds.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Recruiting.
The relevant figures in respect of the period from the 1st January, 1951, to the 30th November, 1952, are as follows:—
|
(a) Number who made application for admittance to the Army |
8,944 |
|
(b) Number accepted |
5,239 |
|
(c) Number rejected for lack of physical fitness |
1,832 |
|
(d) Number rejected on educational grounds |
Nil |
Would the Minister say what now is the strength of the Army?
I would not like to give figures.
That is a separate question.
Will the Minister explain how the figures given do not seem to tot up; 8,000 applied, 5,000 were accepted and 1,000 odd were rejected on physical grounds. What became of the other applicants?
They were rejected on various other grounds: lack of height or chest measurements or failure to procure their parents' consent—there were a number of objections like that.