Vol. 478 No. 4
11 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Defence the total personnel in the Army; if he will give a statistical breakdown in this regard; the duties and gender of the personnel; and if he will make a statement on the proposals, if any, he has to correct the gender imbalance. [11227/97]
258 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Defence the total personnel in the Air Corps; if he will give a statistical breakdown of such personnel, their duties and their gender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11420/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 258 together.
The total strength of the Permanent Defence Force is currently 11,925 of which 217 are female personnel. The current strengths of the Army, Air Corps and the Naval Service are 9,996, 942 and 987, respectively. There are 192 female personnel serving with the Army, 16 serving with the Air Corps and nine serving with the Naval Service.
A statistical breakdown of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service by rank and gender are set out in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report. Women are eligible for service in the Army, the Air Corps, the Naval Service and to compete for all appointments on an equal basis and under the same conditions as those which apply to men. All female personnel undergo the same training and receive the same military education as their male counterparts. In essence, the basis of selection is suitability rather than gender. Women are eligible for employment on operational and ceremonial duties and for assignment to military courses.
Table
|
Army |
Air Corps |
Naval Service |
||||||
|
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
|||
|
Private |
4,747 |
97 |
Private 3* |
437 |
11 |
Seamen |
375 |
6 |
|
Corporal |
2,099 |
25 |
Corporal |
174 |
1 |
Leading Seamen |
196 |
0 |
|
Sergeant |
1,240 |
10 |
Sergeant |
116 |
0 |
Petty Officer |
188 |
0 |
|
CQMS/FQMS |
324 |
0 |
CQMS/FQMS |
14 |
0 |
Senior Petty Officer |
15 |
0 |
|
CS/FS/BS |
146 |
0 |
CS/FS/BS |
46 |
0 |
Chief Petty Officer |
59 |
0 |
|
BQMS |
45 |
0 |
BQMS |
3 |
0 |
Senior Chief Petty Officer |
5 |
0 |
|
Sergeant Major |
32 |
0 |
Sergeant Major |
5 |
0 |
Warrant Officer |
6 |
0 |
|
Cadet |
42 |
7 |
Cadet |
13 |
2 |
Cadet |
4 |
3 |
|
2/Lieutenant |
37 |
6 |
2/Lieutenant |
6 |
0 |
Ensign |
11 |
0 |
|
Lieutenant |
135 |
15 |
Lieutenant |
28 |
2 |
Sub Lieutenant |
21 |
0 |
|
Captain |
408 |
27 |
Captain |
46 |
0 |
Lieutenant (NS) |
46 |
0 |
|
Commandant |
382 |
5 |
Commandant |
25 |
0 |
Lieutenant Commander |
40 |
0 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
122 |
0 |
Lieutenant Colonel |
11 |
0 |
Commander |
9 |
0 |
|
Colonel |
35 |
0 |
Colonel |
1 |
0 |
Captain (NS) |
2 |
0 |
|
Brigadier General |
7 |
0 |
Brigadier General |
1 |
0 |
Commodore |
1 |
0 |
|
Major General |
2 |
0 |
||||||
|
Lieutenant General |
1 |
0 |
||||||
|
Total |
9,804 |
192 |
Total |
926 |
16 |
Total |
978 |
9 |
