The following table illustrates the number of females that were inducted into the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service in 2019 and 2020 (as at 27th May 2020) by Branch:
Number Inducted
|
Army
|
Air Corps
|
Naval Service
|
Total
|
2019
|
39*
|
1
|
4
|
44
|
2020
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
*includes 2 serving soldiers awarded a cadetship
The majority of inductions due in the first quarter of 2020 were postponed due to Covid 19. The Defence Forces are in the process of finalizing their amended 2020 induction capacity, taking into account the impact of public health guidelines.
All members of the Permanent Defence Force who are not deployed on operations or engaged in duties, while remaining available for service at all times, are otherwise engaged in constant ongoing training.
The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. This is underlined by a commitment in the Programme for Government to increase the level of female participation in the Defence Forces.