Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 25 Jan 1966

Vol. 220 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Weight Requirements.

82.

Mr. Ryan

asked the Minister for Defence whether there are weight requirements for Army personnel; and, if so, if he will give details of them and of the authority for them, and details of any recently issued directives or recommendations thereon.

Mr. Hilliard

Defence Force Regulations prescribe that officers and men of the Defence Forces shall be classified into medical categories according to their physical efficiency as determined by, among other things, their constitution. In November, 1965, the Director, Army Medical Corps, issued a table of ages, heights and weights for the guidance of Army Medical Officers in assessing the constitutions of members of the permanent Defence Force at annual medical examinations. I propose, a Cheann Comhairle, with your permission, to circulate a copy of the table in the Official Report.

When issuing the table, the Director suggested that any member found to exceed by 12½ per cent his appropriate weight in accordance with the table, should be placed in Army medical category D, that is, the category of those who are temporarily unfit, and that his case should be reviewed after two months.

Following is the statement:—

Heights and Weights (lbs.)—Men

(Clothing with Shoes, less Tunic)

Age	5' 5"	5' 6"	5' 7"	5' 8"	5' 9"	5' 10"	5' 11"	6' 0"
20	132	136	140	144	148	152	156	161
22	135	139	142	146	150	154	158	163
24	137	141	144	148	152	156	160	165
26	138	142	146	150	154	158	163	168
28	139	134	147	151	155	158	164	170
30	140	144	148	152	156	161	166	172
32	141	145	149	154	158	163	168	174
34	142	146	150	155	160	165	170	176
36	143	147	151	156	161	166	171	177
38	144	148	152	157	162	167	173	179
40	145	149	153	158	163	168	174	180
42	146	150	154	159	164	169	175	181
44	147	151	155	160	165	170	176	182
46	148	152	156	161	166	171	177	183
48	148	152	156	161	166	171	177	183
50	148	152	156	161	166	171	177	183
52	149	153	157	162	167	172	178	184
54	149	153	158	163	168	173	178	184

Reference: 9 stone=126 lbs. 12 stone=168 lbs.

10 ,, = 140 ,, 13 ,, = 182 ,,

11 ,, = 154 ,, 14 ,, = 196 ,,

15 stone = 210 lbs.

Mr. L'Estrange

Are there any similar arrangements for Dáil Deputies?