Ivor Callely
Question:30 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Defence the health and physical requirements for entry to the armed forces; the flexibility, if any, given in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9197/99]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Recruitment.
The health and physical requirements for entry to the Defence Forces are prescribed in Defence Force regulations. The specific requirements are included in a governing conditions booklet which accompanies each Defence Forces recruitment competition. Applicants must be in good mental and bodily health and meet the minimum height requirement which is set at 5' 5" for males and 5' 4" for females.
Nora Owen
Question:31 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Defence the number of women who are officers and other ranks in the Army, Navy and Air Corps; the proportion this represents; and the action, if any, he will take in this regard. [9265/99]
Frances Fitzgerald
Question:133 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the number of women who are officers and other ranks in the Army, Navy and Air Corps; the proportion this represents; and the action, if any, he will take in this regard. [9325/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 133 together.
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 general conditions as those which apply to men. All female personnel undergo the same training and receive the same military education as their male counterparts.
To encourage increased participation by women in the Defence Forces I decided last year to reduce the height requirement for all female recruits to 5' 4".
The following table indicates the number of women within the Permanent Defence Forces as of 30 September 1998, the most recent date for which such figures are currently available due to the ongoing restructuring and reorganisation of the Defence Forces. These figures provide a breakdown between officers and various non-commissioned ranks across each of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps. There is no reason to believe that the general situation, as represented by these figures, has changed in any significant material sense since 30 September 1998.
Women in Permanent Defence Force – 30 September 1998.
|
Females Army |
Total Army |
Females Naval Service |
Total Naval Service |
Females Air Corps |
|
|
Officers |
51 (4.6%) |
1,096 |
2 (1.6%) |
123 |
3 (2.3%) |
|
Non-Commissioned Ranks |
232 (2.7%) |
8,510 |
2 (0.2%) |
867 |
12 (1.4%) |