asked the Minister for Defence if he will state (i) the number of members of the L.D.F. eligible for receipt of service medal and ribbon as a result of their service in that body; (ii) how many members have already received these decorations; (iii) how many of the recipients are serving in the F.C.A., and (iv) how many applications for the issue of these decorations have been received by his Department to date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Force Medals.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state how many applications for the issue of service medals to members of the L.D.F. have been received by his Department to date and how many of those applicants are now serving in the F.C.A.
Sir, with your permission I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 33 together.
(i) It was estimated that about 106,000 members of the L.D.F., 1941-46, would be eligible for the emergency service medal; (ii) 17,805 have already been issued with medals; (iii) 12,179 of the recipients are or were serving in the F.C.A.; (iv) 18,705 applications for these medals have been received to date. I am not in a position to state how many of these are now serving in the F.C.A.