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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 4

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Recruitment.

Dick Spring

Question:

37 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Defence the number of women who are officers and other ranks in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps; the proportion of the overall this represents in each case; the plans, if any, he has to increase the number of female personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26196/99]

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 1999 the most recent date for which such figures are currently available from the military authorities. These figures provide a breakdown between officers and various non-commissioned ranks across each of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps.

Strength of Female Defence Forces as on 30 September, 1999.

LtGen

MajGen

BrigGen

Col

LtCol

Comdt

Capt

Lt

TotalOffrs

Sm

Bqms

Cs

Cqms

Sgts

Cpls

TotalNcos

Ptes

Army

0

0

0

0

0

7

30

29

66

0

0

1

1

14

39

55

234

AirCorps

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

2

4

0

0

0

0

1

1

2

17

NavalService

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

4

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

28

Strength of Male Defence Forces as on 30 September 1999.

LtGen

MajGen

BrigGen

Col

LtCol

Comdt

Capt

Lt

TotalOffrs

Sm

Bqms

Cs

Cqms

Sgts

Cpls

TotalNcos

Ptes

Army

1

2

5

37

130

352

329

137

993

29

39

137

257

1,049

1,875

3,386

4,465

AirCorps

0

0

1

1

8

28

40

36

114

5

4

37

12

109

184

351

396

NavalService

0

0

1

2

9

33

29

30

104

7

5

59

13

175

185

444

402

% of female personnel of total:

Officers

Other Ranks

Total

Army

3.9%

6.2%

3.5%

Air Corps

2.6%

3.4%

2.5%

Naval Service

3.4%

4.6%

3.2%

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