asked the Minister for Defence if he will state: (a) the number of non-commissioned officers and men who have been bought out of the Army since 1st September, 1946; and (b) the total amount of purchase money.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Buying-out of Army Men.
Eleven non-commissioned officers, 77 privates and one cadet of the Forces and three non-commissioned officers and 11 privates of the reserve were discharged by purchase in the period in question.
The total amount of purchase money involved is £4,257.
Is it desirable to maintain, in this State, a system of releasing soldiers from our Army by purchase? Would it not be better, if the Army authorities consider it proper to release a soldier, to release him, and if they think it not proper to release him, to retain him? Where is the propriety of asking poor people to pay substantial sums to get their children sent home from our own Army? Does the Minister not think it desirable to have some improvement in that position?
The Deputy seems to be unaware of the fact that it costs a very large amount to train, equip and keep a soldier up to the standard which he may have reached when leaving. These soldiers are going out to better themselves and I question very much whether it is desirable to continue that system of releasing highly-trained, technical personnel who have received their training from the State, and allow them to become of more value to firms outside than to the State. The State then has to undertake the task of training other individuals. It is very questionable if that is desirable. Again, the amount paid is only a fraction of the actual cost of training these men.
Does the Minister not think that, for the purpose of informing the public of what his explanation makes to appear a very reasonable arrangement, it would be better to alter this word "purchase" to "release" and say "Release on payment of expenses incurred by the Army authorities", or something like that, so that people will understand that it is not merely the archaic procedure of buying their sons back from the State?
What is the average cost of these people per week?
Apparently people do not quite understand the position.
I did not understand it, and I am glad of the Minister's explanation.