asked the Minister for Defence the corps within the Permanent Defence Force where officer strength is 33 per cent below establishment; the reasons for this situation; and the measures being adopted to remedy this situation up to 31 December 1982.
Written Answers. - Defence Force Officer Strength.
504.
There are only two corps in the Permanent Defence Force in which the strength of officers is more than 33 per cent below the activated establishment. These are the Army Medical Corps and the Observer Corps.
The position in relation to officers of the Army Medical Corps was outlined by me in reply to a question on 18 May 1982.
The organisation of the Observer Corps is under review at present and the question of the filling of the vacant appointments will be decided when the outcome of the review is known.