Paul Bradford
Question:7 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Defence if he will make provision for a graduate recruitment programme to the Army.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Forces Recruitment.
Eamon Gilmore
Question:10 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence if it is intended to proceed with the planned intake of cadets into the Defence Forces in 1994; the number expected to be taken in; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Enda Kenny
Question:49 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Defence the proposals, if any, he has to recruit cadets to the Army in 1994; if so, the number he proposes to recruit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 10 and 49 together. Competitions for the award of cadetships in the Army, the Naval Service and the Air Corps were advertised recently in the national newspapers. The closing date for the receipt of completed applications was Friday, 27 May 1994. The number of appointments to be made has not been finalised.
There is a special extension of the upper age limit to facilitate degree holders who wish to apply for cadetships. Such candidates are required to be under 24 years of age on 1 July in the year of the competitions.
Competitions are also held from time to time for the appointment of specialist officers such as doctors, dentists, engineers and pharmacists, for which appropriate qualifications are a requirement.
I accept there is a way into the Defence Forces for graduates but my question related to the possibility of a specific competition being set up for graduates. The point has been made to me that people are recruited via the cadet system and many of those people will have to spend two, three or four of their most formative years at college. It would make sense from an Army point of view to have a specific recruitment programme for graduates who would enter the Army at 21 years of age. Some cadets leave the Army at an early age to take up better employment but graduates who respond positively to such a competition would be more likely to remain and have a full Army career.
The Deputy has a point. There might be some kind of philosophical conflict and the question of elitism might arise—I do not suggest it will —but I take his point. It is something I should have examined and I will return to him in due course with an outline of my views, if that is satisfactory to him.
My question relates to the reported delay in the recruitment of cadets. Has that been eliminated? Will the 50 cadets the Defence Forces were anxious to recruit be recruited this year?
I will be disappointed if they are not recruited this year. I would not want to be one of the few Defence Ministers not to have had an intake of cadets. We are still awaiting sanction from the Department of Finance on the matter. Now that the Deputy has raised the issue, I will pursue it with a greater sense of urgency—not that I have not been doing so already. If a question of this nature is put down again I would hope to have a positive answer for the Deputy.