asked the Minister for Defence the total strength of the Naval Service in (a) officers and (b) other ranks on 31 December 1979.
Written Answers. - Naval Service.
434.
The total strength of the Naval Service on 31 December, 1979 was as follows: (a) officers, 71; (b) other ranks (including cadets), 621.
435.
asked the Minister for Defence the number of (a) officers and (b) other ranks, who resigned from the Naval Service during 1979.
(a) One officer resigned from the Naval Service during 1979; (b) 171 other ranks left the Naval Service during 1979 for the following reasons: on pension after 21 years, 8; termination of engagement, 64; at own request after 12 years' service, 6; by purchase, 93.
436.
asked the Minister for Defence when it is expected to increase naval personnel from 866 to 1,250 as promised by his predecessor at the launching of L.E. Aishling in November 1979.
Examination of proposals for the reorganisation of the structure of the Naval Service has now been completed and it has been decided to provide on a phased basis, commencing immediately, for a revised establishment of 1,105 all ranks.
Two additional patrol vessels are in the process of being procured and it is hoped that these will have been delivered by the end of 1982. It is anticipated that when these vessels are brought into service it will be necessary to have a Naval Service establishment of about 1,250.
437.
asked the Minister for Defence the number of engineer officers and the grade of each presently serving in the Naval Service.
There are at present a total of ten engineer officers in the Naval Service comprising two commanders, four lieutenant-commanders, two lieutenants and two sub-lieutenants.
438.
asked the Minister for Defence the number of engineer officers presently under training for the Naval Service, the location of training centres and when training will be completed in each case.
There are at present ten Naval Service cadets undergoing a training course at the Cork Regional Technical College and the Naval School, Naval Base, Haulbowline.
Five of these cadets will complete the course in 1961 and the other five in 1982. They will then be required to undergo two years practical training before they become qualified marine engineers.
439.
asked the Minister for Defence if it is an invariable practice that each ship under construction for the Naval Service has its designate senior engineer officer standing-by during construction.
Yes. It is the invariable practice.