Peadar Clohessy
Question:4 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Defence if he intends to launch a recruiting campaign for 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Forces Strength.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:41 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence his views on the desirability of increasing the strength of the Defence Forces having regard to UN ongoing requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
John Mulvihill
Question:60 Mr. Mulvihill asked the Minister for Defence if he intends to recommence recruitment to the Defence Forces, and in particular to the Naval Service; if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Mary Harney
Question:62 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Defence if he intends to launch a recruiting campaign for 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Austin Deasy
Question:103 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Defence if he intends to initiate a recruitment campaign to increase the numbers serving in the Defence Forces both permanent and part-time; and the objectives, if any, he has in this regard.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4, 41, 60, 62 and 103 together.
The current strength of the Permanent Defence Force is of the order of 13,000 personnel. I regard this number as adequate to enable the force to fulfil its allotted tasks. Specifically, as regards United Nations service there is no shortage of volunteers for overseas missions. The overall strength will be kept under review in the light of requirements.
The primary reason it has not been necessary to have large-scale recruiting in recent years is that the numbers leaving the Defence Forces have been comparatively small.
There has, of course, been recruitment to meet specific demands. In 1992, the Department of Defence took 50 recruits for the Naval Service, 66 apprentices, 29 cadets and two medical officers. Requirements for 1993 are at present the subject of urgent consideration.
At a time when unemployment is widespread, with more than 300,000 people out of work, would the Minister consider initiating another recruiting campaign for the Defence Forces? The average age of our private soldiers is much higher than in other countries engaged in peacekeeping operations throughout the world and, therefore, young officers leaving Military College find it hard to relate to men who are twice their age.
I agree that the average age is older. In relation to unemployment, I would like to think that those who are unemployed would not necessarily join the Army for the sake of gaining employment. I would like to think that those who join the Army would be committed to a military career. Neverthless, there are vacancies in the Army to be filled by people who are anxious to join the Army. I would concede that point.
Can the Minister give the House a figure of the number who applied to join the Army?
I do not have that figure, but I can give some figures that might be of assistance to the Deputy. I will give the number of people recruited to the Permanent Defence Force in 1992 by category, if that will be of any assistance.
I would prefer to have the number of applications.
I will make those figures available to the Deputy.