Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 1

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Recruitment.

Mary Harney

Question:

31 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Defence, in view of the fact that in the 1970s a great number of officers and private soldiers were recruited into the Defence Forces in order to fill the large number of vacancies which existed due to under-recruitment in the 1960s, resulting in a great body of officers and other ranks of the same age forming a block today with no hope of promotion, the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that recruitment over the next 20 years will be according to a programme of planned intake; and the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that this well-educated, highly trained, loyal and well-motivated body of officers, now to be rendered redundant, will, as far as possible, be offered employment in other areas of the public service. [14445/96]

Minister for Defence (Mr. Barrett)

Recruitment to the Defence Forces has always been assessed in the light of operational requirements at any particular time. I agree that a planned programme of recruitment, both commissioned officers and noncommissioned ranks, is the correct approach to ensuring both an effective strength in consideration of the roles and tasks of the Defence Forces and the most efficient and economic use of personnel resources. Indeed such has been the primary purpose of the EAG review.

I would like to emphasise however that the EAG implementation plan will not make any member of the Defence Forces redundant. To address the unsatisfactory age profile of the PDF in a co-ordinated manner and allow scope for necessary recruitment, the Government approved a voluntary early retirement scheme for the Force. This scheme is entirely voluntary. It also incorporates a counselling support service to assist in the transition to civilian life and in the search for alternative employment.