Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2004
75 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the numbers recruited in each of the brigade areas in the past 12 months; the numbers who have left the Defence Forces in each of the brigade areas in the same period; the number of persons he intends to recruit in respect of grades in the Defence Forces in the next 12 months in each of the brigade areas, the Naval Service and the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13150/04]
View answerThe number of general service recruits recruited in each brigade, along with the number of general service recruits discharged from the Permanent Defence Force in the 12 months from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004, are as follows:
|
Brigade |
Number allocated |
Number discharged |
|
Eastern |
209 |
68 |
|
Western |
73 |
4 |
|
Southern |
106 |
15 |
|
Defence Forces Training Centre |
33 |
6 |
|
Naval Service |
91 |
21 |
The deployment of military personnel, including recruits on completion of their recruit training, is a matter for the military authorities having regard to the operational requirements of the Permanent Defence Force generally.
It is envisaged that approximately 400 personnel will be recruited to the Permanent Defence Force over the next 12 months comprising general service recruits, cadets, Air Corps apprentices and direct entry personnel.
I intend to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces. Recruitment into the Permanent Defence Force will continue to maintain the strength at a level required to meet military needs and as set out in the White Paper, that is, 10,500 Permanent Defence Force all ranks.
