asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the present strength of the Defence Forces.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Strength of Defence Forces.
As the reply is in tabular form, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to include it in the Official Report.
Following is the reply: The strength of the Defence Forces on the 29th February, 1956, was:—
|
Officers |
N.C.O. |
Privates |
Total |
|
|
(a) Permanent Defence Force |
1,186 |
2,720 |
4,871 |
8,777 |
|
(b) Reserve Defence Force:— |
||||
|
Effective Strength: |
||||
|
(i) Reserve of Officers and Reserve of Men (First Line) |
536 |
492 |
3,851 |
4,879 |
|
(ii) Reserve of Officers and Reserve of Men (An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil) |
734 |
1,557 |
16,704 |
18,995 |
|
(iii) Reserve of Officers and Reserve of Men (An Slua Muirí) |
19 |
45 |
234 |
298 |
|
Non-effective Strength: |
||||
|
(i) Reserve of Men (First Line) |
143 |
1,580 |
1,723 |
|
|
(ii) Reserve of Men (An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil) |
186 |
12,420 |
12,606 |
|
|
(iii) Reserve of Men (An Slua Muirí) |
3 |
174 |
177 |
|
|
TOTALS |
2,475 |
5,146 |
39,834 |
47,455 |
NOTE: Reservists on the non-effective list (i.e. those who fail to report for training, etc.) remain liable for permanent service and for service in aid of the civil power.