I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 24, 53, 66, 79 and 95 together.
On 30 September 1996, the latest date in respect of which the military authorities have compiled strength statistics, a total of 256 females were serving in the Permanent Defence Force. There were five in the rank of commandant, 27 in the rank of captain, ten in the rank of lieutenant, 11 in the rank of second lieutenant, 11 in the rank of sergeant, 25 in the rank of corporal and 154 in the rank of private and 13 female cadets in training.
Women are eligible for service in the Army, Air Corps, Naval Service and in the Reserve Defence Force 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 for recruitment and for advancement in service is suitability rather than gender and there are no gender quotas.
The deployment of military personnel, including recruits on completion of their recruit training, is a matter for the military authorities having regard to the operational requirements of the Permanent Defence Force generally. Accordingly, should the military authorities consider that additional personnel are required in Columb Barracks, the matter will be examined by them in that context.
The Defence Force review implementation plan envisages the amalgamation of certain units of the Permanent Defence Force and in that regard it is to be expected that, in common with the position in all other barracks, amalgamation and relocation of some of the units currently based in Mullingar is likely to take place. The implementation plan of the EAG review group provides for the recruitment of 1,000 military personnel over the three year period of the plan which commenced in 1996. This plan is based on the reorganisation of the Permanent Defence Force on the basis of a three brigade structure with a total strength of 11,500.