Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 Jun 1980

Vol. 321 No. 10

Written Answers. - Defence Forces.

337.

Mr. Creed

asked the Minister for Defence (a) the actual strength and (b) the establishment strength of each corps of the Defence Forces in respect of (i) officers and (ii) men, in each of the years 1970 to 1980, inclusive; (c) if FCA personnel are now included in the establishments of each corps since the reorganisation of the FCA; and if so, the percentage of FCA personnel in each corps.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Faulkner)

The appended statements give the information for the years 1970 to 1980 inclusive for the Permanent Defence Force.

As regards (c) since reorganisation, FCA personnel, with the exception of one unit, are not included in Permanent Defence Force units. The exception is an artillery unit, in which, for the time being, it is necessary to include FCA personnel. Details of the establishment and strength of the FCA were given to the Deputy on 29 April 1980.

Statement—(a)

Permanent Defence Force—Corps Strengths

	31 Dec. 1969	31 Dec. 1970	31 Dec. 1971	31 Dec. 1972	31 Dec. 1973	31 Dec. 1974
	Officers	O/Ranks	Officers	O/Ranks	Officers	O/Ranks	Officers	O/Ranks	Officers	O/Ranks	Officers	O/Ranks
Staffs	186	330	198	347	196	372	190	360	201	373	207	376
Infantry Corps	182	1,294	226	1,968	242	2,078	248	2,996	267	3,246	319	3,997
Artillery Corps	63	411	71	605	69	708	71	763	71	747	73	805
Cavalry Corps	44	275	50	421	57	486	58	621	66	589	68	612
Engineer Corps	61	360	60	352	60	359	61	459	51	425	58	443
Signal Corps	43	203	52	291	49	299	52	407	53	376	58	409
Ordnance Corps	44	275	52	299	49	302	50	322	49	294	52	320
Supply and Transport Corps	59	398	63	454	63	475	63	593	62	526	70	593
Medical Corps	45	239	46	248	47	266	44	309	47	294	46	284
Military Police Corps	19	317	20	330	20	308	29	346	28	394	29	419
Air Corps	76	422	72	400	69	398	65	465	67	473	70	562
Naval Service	32	439	36	283	36	355	42	356	42	350	47	384
Observer Corps	10	9	10	10	9	10	8	11	7	10	7	11
Special Establishments	110	1,148	126	999	117	1,108	125	1,218	126	1,158	130	1,153
Women's Service Corps	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Staffs	215	397	213	420	214	390	210	379	227	389	226	391
Infantry Corps	120	5,253	413	5,525	421	5,360	394	4,648	378	4,472	364	4,505
Artillery Corps	81	990	88	997	89	885	88	807	84	712	85	724
Cavalry Corps	68	753	72	812	71	717	63	593	60	617	60	612
Engineer Corps	58	504	63	589	67	599	67	486	70	491	69	494
Signal Corps	60	487	59	515	61	543	57	491	63	459	62	460
Ordnance Corps	60	364	61	404	63	442	58	409	61	367	64	353
Supply and Transport Corps	77	689	80	691	91	700	83	605	85	603	81	597
Medical Corps	48	325	46	382	49	377	51	350	48	336	50	326
Military Police Corps	29	454	31	486	36	520	35	471	38	453	37	452
Air Corps	73	581	80	636	69	618	86	604	91	589	88	562
Naval Service	53	453	59	484	60	569	68	587	71	609	72	682
Observer Corps	8	10	6	13	6	13	5	12	4	14	4	12
Special Establishments	128	1,170	120	1,182	135	1,467	140	1,083	140	1,072	140	1,051
Women's Service Corps	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Statement—(b)

Permanent Defence Force—Corps Establishments.

	31 Dec. 1969	31 Dec. 1970	31 Dec. 1971	31 Dec. 1972	31 Dec. 1973	31 Dec. 1974
	Officers	O/Ranks	Officers	O/Ranks	Officers	O/Ranks	Officers	O/Ranks	Officers	O/Ranks	Officers	O/Ranks
Staff Establishments	229	473	232	473	232	473	234	487	234	487	239	487
Infantry Corps	282	4,000	282	4,000	282	4,000	287	4,087	328	4,961	351	4,943
Artillery Corps	89	878	89	878	89	878	89	878	89	878	89	878
Cavalry Corps	68	619	68	619	68	619	68	619	71	676	71	676
Engineer Corps	74	572	74	572	74	572	74	572	74	572	74	572
Signal Corps	58	471	58	471	58	471	63	550	63	550	63	568
Ordnance Corps	60	557	62	574	62	574	62	574	55	581	64	592
Supply and Transport Corps	78	702	78	702	78	702	78	702	78	714	78	765
Medical Corps	98	469	98	468	98	468	98	468	98	468	100	503
Military Police Corps	33	434	33	434	33	434	51	613	51	613	51	613
Air Corps	101	729	101	724	101	724	99	719	97	721	107	756
Naval Service	45	486	45	486	45	486	59	380	55	380	56	444
Observer Corps	16	47	16	47	16	47	16	47	16	47	16	47
Special Establishments	141	1,145	145	1,149	145	1,149	145	1,150	143	1,152	146	1,180
Women's Service Corps	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Staff Establishments	244	496	246	499	251	470	251	467	277	513	253	430
Infantry Corps	356	5,069	386	5,691	411	6,178	406	6,067	411	6,083	411	6,083
Artillery Corps	89	878	89	878	95	951	95	951	102	970	102	964
Cavalry Corps	79	680	71	680	71	680	71	679	71	679	71	672
Engineer Corps	74	572	75	612	76	657	76	657	82	662	82	660
Signal Corps	63	568	63	568	69	641	70	636	70	636	70	618
Ordnance Corps	64	592	64	664	64	669	64	669	68	679	68	673
Supply and Transport Corps	78	761	78	757	86	830	86	830	86	834	86	788
Medical Corps	98	500	98	500	98	497	98	497	98	497	98	495
Military Police Corps	51	613	46	566	52	795	52	795	52	795	52	787
Air Corps	110	759	110	759	110	759	110	759	110	759	168	987
Naval Service	58	446	70	536	75	561	100	700	107	759	136	961
Observer Corps	16	47	16	47	16	47	16	47	16	47	13	37
Special Establishments	146	1,180	144	1,180	144	1,180	144	1,196	150	1,249	142	1,226
Women's Service Corps	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

338.

Mr. Creed

asked the Minister for Defence if he will state in relation to the Air Corps the total hours flown by each of the Air Corps King Air and HS 125's (including those leased) from the date acquired to date, stating the date acquired; and if he will give details of (i) search and rescue missions, (ii) fishery surveillance patrols, (iii) transport of Government officials, (iv) training and conversion flying and (v) other military operations and also details of aircraft demonstrated to the Air Corps by manufacturers, agents, or others, in each of the years 1975 to date, with details of the type of aircraft demonstrated, the date and the location.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Faulkner)

The information sought is as follows:

1. Aircraft	Date Acquired	Total hours flown
King Air No. 232	10.3.1977	1550
King Air No. 234	24.8.1978	852
King Air No. 240	7.5.1980	23
Hawker Siddeley 125 No. 236	1.6.1979	223
Hawker Siddeley 125 No. 239	6.12.1979	31
Hawker Siddeley 125 No. 238	7.2.1980	147

2. Breakdown of operations
(i) Search and Rescue missions	100 hours
(ii) Fishery surveillance patrols	1563 hours
(iii) Transport of government officials	410 hours
(iv) Training and conversion flying	419 hours
(v) Other military operations	334 hours

It was not possible in the time available to provide a more detailed breakdown. The data requested in relation to the demonstrations is not readily available. I will communicate with the Deputy on these two matters.

339.

Mr. Creed

asked the Minister for Defence (a) the number of apprentices recruited under the Defence Forces Apprentice Scheme in each of the years 1970 to 1979 inclusive, with the number who were transferred to the scheme from other branches of the Defence Forces, (b) the number of apprentices in training on 31 December of each year, with a breakdown by trade, (c) the number of applicants and apprenticeships by trades, with the number of applicants from the other branches of the Defence Forces, (d) the number of apprentices who completed their apprenticeships in each year, their trades, and the numbers assigned to the Army, Air Corps, and Naval Service.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Faulkner)

The information requested is as follows:

(a) the number of apprentices enlisted under the Defence Forces Apprentice Scheme from 1970 to 1979 inclusive—

Army Apprentice School (AAS)	Air Corps
1970	49	31
1971	67	37
1972	56	45
1973	54	33
1974	60	46
1975	59	46
1976	62	36
1977	61	36
1978	64	56
1979	62	32

No army personnel, other than those who may have been awarded apprenticeships from the open competitions, were transferred to the Army or Air Corps Apprentice Schools as apprentices.

(b) Number of apprentices in training on 31 December of each year 1970 to 1979 inclusive—

Year	AAS	Air Corps
1970	151	60
1971	156	68
1972	160	81
1973	156	75
1974	153	74
1975	161	89
1976	165	79
1977	172	68
1978	173	91
1979	177	123

It would not be possible, in the time available, to ascertain the breakdown, by trade, of apprentices serving on 31 December of each of the years mentioned.

(c) Number of applicants

Year	AAS	Air Corps
1970	162	129
1971	167	140
1972	163	148
1973	237	134
1974	298	181
1975	614	518
1976	1,463	1,121
1977	1,807	2,060
1978	1,637	1,971
1979	1,356	1,811

Number of Apprenticeships Offered (by trade)

Year	Air Corps Mechanics	Motor Mechanics	Fitters	Electricians	Carpenters	Radio Mechanics	Total
1970	46	14	25	7	10	13	115
1971	46	14	14	7	10	10	101
1972	53	14	14	7	10	10	108
1973	47	16	12	7	10	10	102
1974	45	16	12	7	10	15	105
1975	45	16	12	7	10	15	105
1976	36	14	12	11	10	15	98
1977	36	14	12	14	7	14	97
1978	55	14	12	12	11	15	119
1979	44	14	12	11	10	15	106

Records are not kept of the number of Defence Force personnel who participate in the competitions for the award of Army, Air Corps apprenticeships.

(d) Numbers of Army and Air Corps apprentices (by trade), who completed their apprenticeships in each year and were assigned to Army, Air Corps and Naval Service.

Year	Air Corps Mechanics	Motor Mechanics	Fitters	Electricians	Carpenters	Radio Mechanics	Total
1970	37	16	14	12	10	—	89
1971	34	13	14	8	10	11	90
1972	40	14	12	7	10	4	87
1973	20	13	14	11	8	5	71
1974	34	14	12	9	8	3	80
1975	27	10	9	9	8	8	71
1976	35	13	12	8	7	7	82
1977	39	15	10	7	7	8	86
1978	33	10	11	10	7	14	85
1979	44	10	8	10	8	8	88

Year	Army	Air Corps	Naval Service
1970	49	37	3
1971	49	34	7
1972	44	40	3
1973	51	20	Nil
1974	36	34	10
1975	41	27	3
1976	32	39	11
1977	37	40	9
1978	39	33	13
1979	32	46	10

340.

Mr. Creed

asked the Minister for Defence (a) the number of Army cadets commissioned each year from 1970 to 1979 inclusive, (b) the number of Army cadets in training on 31 December of each year, (c) the numbers of Army personnel who qualified for third level insitutions under the university scheme, each year, with details of the degrees taken, (d) the numbers of PDF personnel who were studying at third level institutions on 31 December of each year, (e) the number of degree holders such as doctors, engineers, architects etc, in the Army on 31 December of each year, with a breakdown by profession.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Faulkner)

(a) The number of Army cadets commissioned from 1970 to 1979.

1970	31
1971	26
1972	29
1973	78
1974	100
1975	92
1976	70
1977	67
1978	41
1979	29

(b) The number of Army cadets in training on the 31st December of each year 1970-1979

1970	55
1971	65
1972	116
1973	185
1974	141
1975	128
1976	127
1977	90
1978	62
1979	75

(c)

Year	Numbers who were awarded degrees in:—
Arts	Commerce	Engineering	Science
1972	7	2	—	2
1973	3	4	1	6
1974	12	10	—	2
1975	17	6	—	3
1976	14	3	2	3
1977	21	6	1	5
1978	14	7	4	9
1979	20	6	5	10

(d)

Year	Number of Army Personnel attending Third Level Institutions under the University Scheme.
31 December	1970	29
	1971	54
	1972	85
	1973	89
	1974	110
	1975	107
	1976	128
	1977	124
	1978	115
	1979	69

(e) The number of "professional" officers in the Defence Forces at present is shown hereunder. It would not be possible, without the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of official time, to provide similar details for the years 1970 to 1979.

Profession	Numbers
Doctors	36
Engineers
(including Architects)	79
Scientists (B.Sc)	46
Dentists	7
Pharmacists	4
Barristers (or Solicitors)	10

341.

Mr. Creed

asked the Minister for Defence (a) the amount of training which is required before FCA officers are commissioned, and if such training is part-time or full-time, if he will outline fully the position; (b) if such officers attend the military college; and, if not why; (c) if FCA officers are considered equal to PDF officers of the same rank, or senior PDF officers of a lower rank; and if he will clarify the position.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Faulkner)

(a) Defence Force Regulations provide that, apart from a person who is in possession of a university degree, diploma or other special qualification, only non-commissioned officers of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil shall be eligible to be appointed to be officers in An Fórsa. Such non-commissioned officers are required to complete successfully a potential officers' course prior to being recommended for appointment as officers. This course consists of a continuous period of training of 14 days as well as periods of training of short duration amounting to a total of 48 hours.

(b) it is intended to commence courses of instruction for officers of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil at the Military College in August next.

(c) The Defence Acts and Defence Force Regulations have separate provisions governing officers of the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force. An officer in one class of the Defence Forces cannot readily be compared, therefore, to an officer in the other class.

342.

Mr. Creed

asked the Minister for Defence (a) if there was a proposal to fit a 90mm gun and turret to the Comet tanks in 1974; if he will give details; (b) if any of these vehicles are operational, if they are in storage, have been scrapped and their present condition; and (c) how and when they will be disposed of.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Faulkner)

(a) There was no proposal in 1974 to fit a 90mm gun and turret to these tanks.

(b) None of these tanks is operational. As stated in my reply to the Deputy's question on 26 March 1980, these tanks are obsolete and unserviceable and cannot be economically repaired.

(c) These vehicles are being disposed of in accordance with Defence Force Regulations regarding obsolete stores. As they are items of defensive equipment, it is likely that they will be scrapped and the produce sold. One tank will, however, be retained for military museum purposes.