Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 4

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Personnel.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

66 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence the number of NCOs who have been commissioned as officers in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service in each of the past five years; the steps being taken to encourage greater commissioning from the ranks, especially having regard to the Feely report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20501/02]

David Stanton

Question:

68 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence when he expects the ongoing discussions with the representative associations regarding the draft conditions governing the appointment of enlisted personnel of the Permanent Defence Force to the officers of the Naval Service to be concluded; if he will report on the issues under discussion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20469/02]

Dinny McGinley

Question:

114 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself that there are sufficient promotional opportunities for non-commissioned personnel in the Defence Forces; and his plans to improve promotional opportunities for such personnel. [20661/02]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 68 and 114 together.

A total of 31 non-commissioned officers have been commissioned as officers in the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service in the past five years. The numbers commissioned in each year are detailed in the following statement. PotentiaI officers courses are held for non-commissioned personnel from time to time within the Defence Forces. Personnel who successfully complete such courses are commissioned as officers in the Permanent Defence Force. Participants on such courses are selected on a competitive basis. Non-commissioned personnel who hold suitable qualifications are sometimes commissioned to fill specialist appointments if vacancies arise. Eligible non-commissioned personnel may also apply for the annual cadetship competitions. Requirements for potential officer courses and commissioning from the ranks competitions are reviewed from time to time. This is one of the specific issues which is to be addressed in the context of the integrated personnel management plan for the Defence Forces. The plan is one of the major policy initiatives provided for in the White Paper on Defence. Provision for the introduction of regular schemes to commission enlisted personnel as officers in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service will be one of the core issues to be dealt with by the military authorities in drafting the management plan. A preliminary draft of the plan has been considered by the Department's strategic management committee and is now being further refined by the military authorities.

Draft conditions governing the appointment of enlisted personnel of the Permanent Defence Force to be officers of the Naval Service are under discussion with the representative associations. As the discussions with the representative associations are ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment on any of the specifics of the proposed draft conditions. However, it is the intention that a potential officers course will be run as soon as these discussions are completed.

Year	NumberAppointed	Category
1997	1	Army School of Music
1998	2	Air traffic control
1999	2	Electrical engineer officers, Naval Service
2000	18	15 line officers and 3 IT officials
2001	8	8 watch-keeping officers, Naval Service
2002 (to date)	0