Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 May 2021
146. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Defence the number of females who were recruited to the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service in 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of females currently in training in each branch of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25124/21]
View answerThe table following details the number of females inducted into the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service in 2020 and in 2021, in addition to those in training as at 31st March 2021.
|
Inductions 2020 |
Inductions 2021* |
In Training 2021** |
|
|
Army |
32 |
5 |
9 |
|
Air Corps |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Naval Service |
7 |
1 |
3 |
|
Total |
42 |
6 |
15 |
*As at 30 April 2021; **As at 31 March 2021
Of the 42 women inducted in 2020, 32 were General Service Recruits, 6 were Cadets, 2 were Air Corps Apprentices and 2 were re-enlisting personnel.
The 6 women inducted by the end of March 2021 were General Service Recruits. Further inductions will take place throught the year as recruitment continues. The Air Corps Apprentice competition, closed in March 2021, attracted 663 applications and these are currently being processed. General Service recruitment is ongoing and the Cadet competition was launched recently. This is in addition to the 9 current Direct Entry competitions and the Re-commissioning and Re-enlistment schemes.
