asked the Minister for Defence the number of trained parachutists in the Defence Forces.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Trained Parachutists .
26.
: There are approximately 200 personnel of the Permanent Defence Force who have received training in parachute jumping.
: Does the Minister know are these trained parachutists? Have they just been trained and, if they have been trained, how many jumps have they been given?
: I think I have answered the question the Deputy asked. He asked the number of trained parachutists in the Defence Forces and I told him that there are approximately 200 people who have received training for parachute jumping. The brief does not have the number of jumps of each of these persons, naturally, but if the Deputy wants a more elaborate answer I will ask the Minister for Defence to give him as much information as he can. It would be impossible to give it by way of reply to a parliamentary question.
: Finally, might I ask the Minister if he is satisfied that these people are called trained parachutists? That is the important criterion here.
: I am satisfied that the information given in the answer meets the request in the question, that they are trained and the Army are satified that they are trained.
: The Minister did not say that in the answer.
: Might I ask the Minister if such trained parachutists are trained in Ireland?
: I would think that the great majority of them are trained in the Permanent Defence Force, here at home.