Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Recruitment.

David Stanton

Question:

336 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the number of applications received in the past year for the respective Defence Force branches; the numbers of these who were deemed unsuitable; the reasons they were deemed to be unsuitable in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2216/01]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

The number of applications received in 2000 for entry to the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service and the number of applicants who were found unsuitable are as follows:

Year 2000	Number ofapplicants	Number Foundunsuitable
Army	1,926	1,331
Air Corps	698	645
Naval Service	402	341

Applicants were found to be unsuitable for a number of reasons including age, standard of physical fitness, medical condition, educational standard and some were found to be generally unsuitable for service in the Permanent Defence Forces.

A number of applications received in 2000 are still being processed.

Question No. 337 answered with Question No. 334.