I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 53 and 54 together and, as the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, to circulate it in the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
DEFENCE FORCES—STRENGTHS ON 31ST DECEMBER 1970 AND 31ST OCTOBER 1972.
Ranks
|
Permanent Defence Force
|
Reserve Defence Force (Effective Strengths)
|
|
|
|
The Reserve—First Line
|
An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil
|
An Slua Muirí
|
|
31/12/70
|
31/10/72
|
31/12/70
|
31/10/72
|
31/12/70
|
31/10/72
|
31/12/70
|
31/10/72
|
OFFICERS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lieutenant-General
|
1
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Major-General
|
—
|
1
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Colonel
|
37
|
37
|
1
|
1
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Lieutenant-Colonel
|
92
|
100
|
3
|
2
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Commandant
|
307
|
330
|
40
|
35
|
75
|
71
|
3
|
5
|
Capitan
|
433
|
398
|
241
|
188
|
146
|
153
|
9
|
10
|
Lieutenant
|
184
|
188
|
46
|
26
|
291
|
269
|
14
|
10
|
Second-Lieutenant
|
65
|
61
|
5
|
1
|
163
|
183
|
—
|
—
|
TOTAL
|
1,119
|
1,115
|
336
|
253
|
675
|
676
|
26
|
25
|
MEN
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sergeant-Major
|
35
|
36
|
—
|
—
|
13
|
13
|
2
|
2
|
Battalion Quartermaster-Sergeant
|
31
|
31
|
—
|
—
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
Company-Sergeant
|
160
|
164
|
2
|
—
|
82
|
88
|
17
|
20
|
Company Quartermaster-Sergeant
|
295
|
295
|
1
|
—
|
39
|
42
|
1
|
—
|
Sergeant
|
1,023
|
1,108
|
93
|
76
|
766
|
790
|
32
|
29
|
Corporal
|
1,457
|
1,482
|
187
|
127
|
2,191
|
2,124
|
23
|
24
|
Private
|
4,381
|
6,121
|
1,072
|
774
|
16,320
|
14,867
|
225
|
230
|
Cadet
|
62
|
126
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
TOTAL
|
7,444
|
9,363
|
1,355
|
977
|
19,414
|
17,927
|
303
|
307
|
GRAND TOTAL
|
8,563
|
10,478
|
1,691
|
1,230
|
20,089
|
18,603
|
329
|
332
|
NOTES:
(a) Naval Service personnel included at equivalent Army ranks.
(b) In the period 31st December 1970 to 31st October 1972
(i) the strength of the Permanent Defence Force increased by 1,915 all ranks
(ii) the strength of the Reserve-First Line decreased by 461 all ranks
(iii) the strength of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil decreased by 1,486 all ranks
(iv) the strength of An Slua Muirí increased by 3 all ranks.