Vol. 421 No. 8
8 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Defence if he will give details of (a) the number of FCA summer camps being organised by the military around the country this year, (b) the duration of each and (c) the way in which this compares with summer camp activities five years ago.
Eighty-nine courses of annual training, the majority of which will be of seven days' duration, are scheduled to take place at 22 different locations throughout the country this summer. Further similar courses may be held later in the year. Five years ago, 71 summer camps were held at 20 locations throughout the country.
Will the Minister agree that five years ago the summer camp was of approximately two weeks' duration, not seven days as at present and that the present seven days is in operation for only three or four full, practical days, so in effect actual training days are reduced to three or four as against ten to 12 previously? Does he consider this satisfactory? Despite repeated requests to this House, why has he not considered extending the summer camps, in some instances at least, to 14 days? Has he given any consideration to allocating additional Army officers to the FCA in view of the large number of captains and commandants within the Army at the moment who are hindering promotional opportunities?
The Deputy is raising a separate matter.
I have not got the details of the length of the course at the time the Deputy mentions. I want to point out that the substance of the reply indicates there are 89 courses this year as against 71 in 1989, which was the date the Deputy mentioned, and these take place at 20 locations.
