asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline his exact plans for recruitment to the FCA for 1986.
24.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - FCA Recruitment.
14.
asked the Minister for Defence the number of personnel in the FCA; the number recruited each year since 1980; the number who withdrew from the force during the same period; and the number intended to be recruited in the current year.
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 14 and 24 together.
The number of personnel at present in the FCA is 14,654. The following table gives the numbers recruited and discharged since 1980.
|
Year |
Recruited |
Discharged |
|
1980 |
5,230 |
1,533 |
|
1981 |
5,665 |
1,434 |
|
1982 |
3,935 |
1,602 |
|
1983 |
385 |
1,235 |
|
1984 |
2,839 |
1,638 |
|
1985 |
3,235 |
2,100 |
Assuming present strengths are maintained the number of personnel which may be recruited this year is 1,707.
Would the Minister agree that with so many young idealistic people unemployed they should be given every opportunity to give national service in this manner on a voluntary basis. From the numbers given, they do not remain very constant. It appears that every effort is not being made to help people to become recruits in the FCA. Is it not a very bad time to restrict recruitment and in particular to restrict annual training in any way?
I accept that the recruitment to the FCA should be increased. We must remember that we are in fairly tight financial straits. Recruitment to An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil reflects that also. However, sufficient numbers are being recruited to replace those who are discharged and who leave for a variety of reasons. I am quite happy that the restrictions are within the limits which are allowed in respect of numbers in the FCA.