Seán Power
Question:19 Mr. Power asked the Minister for Defence when the recruitment of 500 personnel to our Defence Forces will be advertised. [11455/95]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Recruitment.
Ivor Callely
Question:69 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has to reduce or restrict recruitment to the Defence Forces; if so, the time scale involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11575/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 69 together.
Thirty, apprenticeship posts in the Army and Air Corps were advertised in January 1995. The applicants for these apprenticeships have been interviewed and it is hoped that the apprenticeships will be awarded in August 1995. In addition, advertisements for the award of cadetships in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service were placed in the national press recently and it is envisaged that about thirty cadetships will be awarded.
With regard to general recruitment I consider that it would be appropriate and prudent that recruitment measures should be synchronised with the major re-organisation of the Defence Forces following the EAG review. For that reason I am not in a position to make an announcement about general recruitment until later in the year. At that stage it is envisaged that new recruits would be selected from the panel of suitable candidates established following last year's recruitment competition.