Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Jun 1998

Vol. 491 No. 7

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Personnel.

David Stanton

Question:

124 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence if, further to Question No. 61 of 22 April 1998, there are no female commissioned officers in the FCA; and the reason those recently commissioned have all apparently left the organisation. [13215/98]

David Stanton

Question:

127 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the number of PDF personnel by rank serving in FCA appointments in a full-time capacity in each of the years from 1995 to 1997. [13218/98]

David Stanton

Question:

128 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the number of PDF personnel by rank serving in FCA appointments in a part-time capacity in each of the years from 1995 to 1997. [13219/98]

David Stanton

Question:

130 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the number of FCA and An Slua Muirí officers by command who tendered their resignation in each month of 1997; and the dates on which these became effective. [13223/98]

David Stanton

Question:

131 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the number of females who held commissioned rank in the FCA; the dates on which they received their commissions; the number of these still holding commissions; the dates on which any of these commissions were relinquished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13224/98]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 124, 127, 128, 130 and 131 together.

There are at present five female commissioned officers in the FCA and to date no female commissioned officers have left the organisation. One of these officers was commissioned to the FCA on 17 November 1996, one was commissioned on 4 August 1997, and three were commissioned on 23 November 1997.

The numbers of PDF personnel by rank serving in the FCA in a full-time capacity on 31 January in each of the years 1995 to 1997 are shown in the following tables:

Year	Col.	Lt. Col.	Comdt.	Capt.	Lt.	2/Lt.	Total
31 Jan. 1995	1	5	52	53	2	1	114
31 Jan. 1996	1	5	52	53	3	–	114
31 Jan. 1997	–	4	47	54	2	1	108

Strength of Non-Commissioned Personnel — FCA (Full-Time Basis)

Year	Sgt.-Maj.	BQMS	Coy. Sgt.	CQMS	Sgt.	Cpl.	Pte.
31 Jan. 1995	–	–	3	152	102	170	214
31 Jan. 1996	–	–	4	151	97	159	198
31 Jan. 1997	–	–	3	137	84	136	189

The numbers of PDF personnel by rank, serving in FCA appointments in a part-time capacity in each of the years 1995 to 1997 are shown in the following tables:

PDF Officers on Dual or Part-Time Basis in FCA

	Lt. Col.	Comdt.	Capt.	Lt.
1995	3	2	23	2
1996	1	10	23	1
1997	0	4	17	2

Non-Commissioned Personnel on a Dual or Part-Time Basis in FCA

Eastern Command

	BSM	BQMS	Coy. Sgt.	CQMS.	Sgt.	Cpl.	Pte.	Total
1995	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
1996	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
1997	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–

Southern Command

	BSM.	BQMS.	Coy. Sgt.	CQMS.	Sgt.	Cpl.	Pte.	Total
1995	–	–	–	–	–	3	1	4
1996	–	–	–	3	1	6	1	11
1997	–	–	–	5	3	6	2	16

Western Command

	BSM.	BQMS.	Coy. Sgt.	CQMS.	Sgt.	Cpl.	Pte.	Total
1995	–	–	–	–	1	2	13	16
1996	–	–	–	–	1	2	12	15
1997	–	–	–	–	1	2	7	10

Curragh Command

	BSM.	BQMS.	Coy. Sgt.	CQMS.	Sgt.	Cpl.	Pte.	Total
1995	–	–	–	–	1	2	4	7
1996	–	–	–	–	1	2	4	7
1997	–	–	–	–	1	2	4	7

The numbers of FCA and An Slua Muirí officers who tendered their resignations in each month of 1997 by command and the effective dates are shown in the following table:

1997 Months	An Slua Muirí	FCA E. Cmd.	FCA S. Cmd.	FCA W. Cmd.	FCA C. Cmd.	Effective Dates of Resignation
January	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	–
February	Nil	Nil	2	Nil	Nil	26-6-97
March	Nil	Nil	Nil	1	Nil	26-6-97
April	Nil	Nil	Nil	1	Nil	26-6-97
				1		10-12-97
May	Nil	Nil	Nil	1	Nil	26-6-97
June	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	–
July	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	–
August	1	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	10-12-97
September	Nil	Nil	1	Nil	Nil	*
October	Nil	1	Nil	Nil	Nil	*
November	1	Nil	3	Nil	Nil	*
December	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	–

* Being Processed.

David Stanton

Question:

125 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the number, by rank, of PDF personnel who hold FCÁ appointments as at 1 May 1998, detailing those who hold these appointments in additional to their substantive appointment elsewhere in the Defence Forces. [13216/98]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

The number of PDF personnel by rank who hold FCA appointments as at 1 May 1998 is being compiled. I will forward this information to the Deputy as soon as possible.