asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the number of recruits in the First Line Reserve attested and accepted to date under the recently advertised schemes, exclusive of personnel posted to the Reserve after service in the permanent force.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Numbers in Defence Forces.
Major de Valera
Under the recently advertised scheme for short term engagements in the Forces, i.e., 92 days in Army service and the residue of five years in the Reserve of Men—First Line, 48 recruits were accepted up to and including 17th February, 1951.
Major de Valera
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state (a) the total number of regular officers at present serving in the Defence Forces, Permanent Force, and (b) the number of such officers in (i) the Ordnance Corps, (ii) the Signal Corps, (iii) the Corps of Engineers who hold any of the following university degrees: Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical and Electrical).
(a) The total number of regular officers at present serving in the Defence Forces, Permanent Force is 1,100. (b) The number of such officers in (i) the Ordnance Corps, (ii) the Signal Corps, (iii) the Corps of Engineers, who hold the following university degrees: Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical and Electrical) is as follows:—
|
B.Sc. |
M.Sc. |
B.E. (Mechanical and Electrical) |
|
|
(i) Ordnance Corps |
10 |
Nil |
7 |
|
(ii) Signal Corps |
1 |
Nil |
Nil |
|
(iii) Corps of Engineers |
3 |
Nil |
5 |
Major de Valera
asked the Minister for defence if he will state, with reference to his reply to a question on the 7th December, 1950 (Official Report, Volume 123, column 1996), when he stated that it was not intended further to expand and develop the First Line Reserve, the reasons for reconsidering his attitude in the matter.
At no time did I think there was much hope of extending or increasing the First Line Reserve other than in the normal way, i.e., by transfer of men thereto after some years' regular Army service. In view, however, of the various representations made to me, I decided to give the scheme suggested to me a trial. I regret to state that the experiment has proved that my contention was correct.
Did the Minister want it to be a success?
Certainly the Minister wanted that.
Why did he talk about soldiers as knocking sparks out of barrack squares, bringing the whole Army into contempt?
The better the soldier, the more sparks he knocks out of them.