Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Jan 1998

Vol. 486 No. 1

Written Answers. - FCA Vacancies.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

380 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 128 of 17 December 1997 the vacancies by rank at senior NCO, captain and commandant ranks in relation to each formation, corps and unit of the FCA and An Slua Muirí as at 31 December 1997; the vacancies existing prior to 31 August 1997; the procedures in train to fill vacancies by the end of February 1998 or a later date as appropriate. [1333/98]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith):

The vacancies by rank of senior officers in the FCA and Slua Muirí are as follows:

Unit	Comd	Vacancy Comdt	Date Vacant	Vacancy Capt	Date Vacant	Remarks
7 Inf Bn	E	1	7/97			No officer qualified in Coy area
7 Fd Arty Regt	E			1	7/96	No officer qualified
11 Cav Sqn	E			2		No officer qualified
2 Fd Med Coy	E	1		2		No medical officer in Unit
11 Fd Med Coy	E			1		No officer qualified until 2001
HQ S Comd FCA	S	1	10/92			No qualified officer (Engr Offr)
11 Inf Bn	S	1				No officer qualified until Nov 1998
14 Inf Bn	S			1	2/97	Being processed
22 Inf Bn	S	1	11/97			Being processed
3 Fed Arty Regt	S			2	6/97	Being processed
8 Fd Arty Regt	S			1	6/95	No officer qualified in Bty Area
3 Cav Sqn	S			4		No officers qualified until Nov 1998
3 Fed Engr Coy	S			1		No officers qualified until 2001
1 Fd Med Coy	S	1				No officer qualified
3 Fd Med Coy	S	1		2		No medical officers in Unit
HQ W Comd	W	1	7/97			Being processed
16 Inf Bn	W	1	1/96			Being processed
18 Inf Bn	W			2		No officer qualified until 1998
25 Inf Bn	W			1	8/87	No officers qualified until 2000
5 Fd Arty Regt	W			4	6/10/97	No officer qualified until 11/98
5 Fd Engr Coy	W			1		No officer qualified until 11/99
5 Fd Sig Coy	W			1		Being processed
4 Fd MP Coy	W	1	11/97			Being processed
5 Fd Med Coy	W	1		1		No officers qualified until 1999
C Comd FCA HQ	C	1				No officer qualified
6 Fd Arty Regt	C			1	9/95	No officers qualified until 6/98
5 AD Bty AD Regt	C			1	9/96	No officer qualified until 6/98
Grand Total FCA		12		29

An Slua Muirí	Group	Vacancy Lt Cdr	Date Vacant	Vacancy Lt(Sm)	Date Vacant	Remarks
No. 3 Coy	EG			1		No officer qualified until 3/98
No. 4 Coy	SG			3		No officer qualified
No. 5 Coy	SG			1		No officer qualified until 4/98
Total				5

Vacancies will be filled when the officers concerned within the Commands become qualified for the appropriate Rank and comply with the terms and conditions governing promotion of officers of An FCA. Details of the vacancies for non-commissioned officers are not readily available. These will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as they have been compiled.