Vol. 561 No. 5
104 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the number of cadets currently in full time third level education; the number that have graduated from the respective colleges each year during the past six years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4562/03]
The number of newly commissioned officers currently in full time paid attendance at third level educational courses together with the number graduating from the respective colleges over each of the past six years are detailed in the following tabular statement. The officers in full time education who have not yet graduated amount to 114.
Officer Graduates 1997-2002.
|
Year |
College |
Graduates |
|
1997 |
NUIG |
21 |
|
GMIT |
6 |
|
|
DIT |
1 |
|
|
CIT |
1 |
|
|
Total |
29 |
|
|
1998 |
NUIG |
15 |
|
GMIT |
12 |
|
|
Total |
27 |
|
|
1999 |
NUIG |
6 |
|
GMIT |
1 |
|
|
DCU |
1 |
|
|
UL |
3 |
|
|
DIT |
1 |
|
|
Total |
12 |
|
|
2000 |
NUIG |
11 |
|
GMIT |
2 |
|
|
MAYNOOTH |
2 |
|
|
UL |
5 |
|
|
Total |
20 |
|
Year |
College |
Graduates |
|
2001 |
NUIG |
14 |
|
GMIT |
2 |
|
|
DCU |
1 |
|
|
UL |
1 |
|
|
DIT |
1 |
|
|
Total |
19 |
|
|
2002 |
NUIG |
8 |
|
GMIT |
2 |
|
|
UL |
2 |
|
|
Total |
12 |
Officers Currently in Full Time Education But Not Yet Graduated
|
2003 |
NUIG |
72 |
|
GMIT |
24 |
|
|
DCU |
1 |
|
|
MAYNOOTH |
1 |
|
|
UL |
6 |
|
|
CIT |
8 |
|
|
DIT |
1 |
|
|
SLIGO |
1 |
|
|
Total |
114 |
NUIG – National University Galway
GMIT – Galway Mayo Institute of Technology
DIT – Dublin Institute of Technology
CIT – Cork Institute of Technology
DCU – Dublin City University
UL – University of Limerick
Does the Department or the Defence Forces have any plans to change the way in which cadets are educated? Are there moves to recruit graduates directly and short circuit the need to pay for cadets' education? That rumour is abroad. Is there any truth to it? Does the Minister agree that the current system has worked extremely well over the years and changing it, or even contemplating such a change, would be a retrograde step?
I am not aware of plans for major changes. This is primarily a matter for the Military College but I do not have proposals before me along the lines suggested by Deputy Stanton. There may have been times when, considering the numbers attending third level courses, management wanted to examine other options and I am happy to facilitate that. The world is ever-changing and there is much to take into account. It may have arisen at a time when we were losing substantial numbers after they completed their college training. We lost young recruits when it would have been to the advantage of the Defence Forces if they had stayed. That exodus has stopped so the pressure no longer exists.
How many graduates are recruited into the officer corps each year? Is any effort being made to recruit graduates?
Not as far as I am aware. The numbers are tiny.
