asked the Minister for Defence the number of applicants presently on the waiting list for interviews for recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force; the average waiting time for interview and recruitment; the number of recruits it is expected will be taken in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Forces Recruitment.
12.
The number of applicants on the waiting lists on 30 April 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, was 8,316.
The average time before an applicant is called for interview is in excess of two years.
Recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force is kept constantly under review in the light of current strengths and commitments. The question of recruitment in any year will be examined in the context of prevailing financial circumstances and the overall budgetary situation.
In view of the information just given by the Minister of State surely he must accept that the Government and his Department have a responsibility to those 8,316 people who are expecting to be interviewed and called up, to ensure that at least they are fully advised of their position? It appears that this Government have given no indication of how many recruits will be taken into the Permanent Defence Force over the next five years, so that none has any real prospect of taking up a position within the Permanent Defence Force. Are the Minister or his Department taking any steps to advise upwards of 8,000 people that they are engaged in what looks very much like a fool's errand?
I might point out that recruitment is kept constantly under review in the light of current strengths and commitments. The question of the intake of recruits this year, or at any time in the future, will be examined in the context of the overall budgetary situation and general financial constraints.
My question to the Minister of State was if the Department are taking any steps to adequately advise upwards of 8,000 people that their prospects are not at all bright, that there is little or no prospect of their being recruited in the next five years?
We are having repetition.
Yes, because the answer is not being given, the question is not being addressed.
That is through no fault of the Chair.
If the Deputy is stating that there will be no prospect whatever of any further recruitment in the next five years then he must have some information that is not available to me. So far as the Government are concerned the matter will continue to be reviewed. Of the 8,316 on the waiting list at present it is considered that a large percentage would not be available for enlistment even if such did arise. I take the Deputy's point in regard to notification and will give it consideration.
Is it proposed to recruit replacements of people who leave, retire or die in Army service in 1987?
As I have already said, recruitment will be considered in the light of current strengths and conditions. With regard to the specific question asked by the Deputy, I should say that is a matter that will be considered in the light of budgetary circumstances.
Is it not a fact that the allocation has been made to the Army, that the Army know precisely how much money they are getting, which means it is then a policy decision of the Government as to whether they will replace those people who leave, retire or die in Army service in 1987? The Minister must know that at this stage because there will be people leaving the service next Friday evening and he must know whether they will be replaced.
The Army authorities are quite satisfied and happy that there will be no difficulty encountered in maintaining strength for the remainder of 1987.
The Minister is avoiding the question I am asking. Will the Minister replace the people who leave the Army next Friday, or any Friday for the remainder of this year?
If the Deputy has some information in regard to the numbers of personnel leaving——
I am seeking information.
——the Army on Friday next, perhaps he might put down a separate question.
This is leading to argument and repetition.
I am endeavouring to pursue this question but it appears the Minister of State is hiding the fact that the Government intend to run down the Army by not replacing the people who leave in 1987. I want a straight answer to that.
There is no question of the Government running down the Permanent Defence Force, no question whatsoever. Recruitment will take place in the light of budgetary conditions, as the Deputy will fully realise. I might add that, with regard to recruitment in 1987 and 1988, there will be no change whatsoever in relation to the number of recruits taken since 1982 and 1983.
Is it not a fact that the numbers in the Permanent Defence Force are being reduced at the rate of approximately 50 per month? That is in accordance with information given in the House about two weeks ago. Against that background surely one cannot say that the present strength will be maintained. Surely the Minister and his Government must know exactly what will take place between now and the end of the year, whatever about what may happen in four or five years time. It is only proper that the Minister should come clean and tell the House exactly what is likely to happen to many of those 8,316 applicants. It is not sufficient for the Minister of State to tell us that the Government have a particular stance on it — he is avoiding the question — considering there are 50 per month——
This is developing into a debate.
Deputy McCartan put that question five minutes ago and I have already answered it.
Would the Minister of State have information on his file as to the percentage of the 8,316 that is female and the percentage that is male?
That is a separate question.
I appreciate it does not form part of my question but would the Minister have such information to hand?
I will be coming to that later.
Might I make one last effort to get the Minister to say whether the people who leave the Army every month will be replaced in 1987, the 50 per month to which Deputy Connaughton referred? Will they be replaced so that the Army strength at December 1987 will be the same as at December 1986?
I can only repeat for the third time that recruitment will be examined in the context of budgetary circumstances. The Deputy must appreciate that.
The Minister is not answering the question I asked him. Therefore we can deduce what is the answer, that the Army is going to be run down in strength.
There is no foundation whatsoever for coming to such a conclusion.