asked the Minister for Defence the number of private soldiers who recently took part in an NCO course; the number who passed; the number who have been or will be promoted as a result of this course; if it is the normal practice not to promote all those who pass the course; and, if not, why this change in policy has been introduced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army NCO Course.
24.
Courses for potential NCOs were completed in various Commands in June, 1967. These courses were attended by a total of 106 students of whom 95 passed. Twenty-eight of the students who passed have already been promoted to the rank of corporal and the remainder will be promoted according as vacancies for corporals occur. It is expected that all will have been promoted by October next.
The numbers of NCO posts which it is necessary to have filled in the ranks of corporal and sergeant at any particular time are governed by the current strength of privates in the army. This has been the position since 1946 and there has not been any recent change in policy in this matter.
Would the Minister not agree it has always been the practice in the Army since the Emergency period that those who did an NCO course and passed it were promoted within a matter of weeks after they had finished the course? Will he not also agree that this is the first occasion on which a cut-down has taken place, when in fact boys who were told if they passed the course they would be promoted have now been told that, even though they passed, there are no vacancies for them and, therefore, they will not be promoted? I am glad the Minister says they will be promoted by October— that is a change—but that is not what their superior officers told them at the time.
I have explained to the Deputy in my reply why the promotions have not occurred more quickly.
This is the first time this has occurred.
First or last time——
First and last time. I am glad to hear the Minister say that.
First or last, it is a fact.