Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 Feb 1997

Vol. 474 No. 5

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Recruitment.

Michael Bell

Ceist:

89 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence whether, further to a parliamentary question of 26 September 1996 and intervening correspondence where he was asked about the position of senior NCO and commissioned officer vacancies in both the FCA and Slua Muirí and his reply thereto of 3 January 1997 and having further regard to his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 945 of 25 July 1996, he is now in a position to reply to this question; the locations where vacancies occurred earlier than May 1996; when the vacancies will be filled; the proposal by the military authorities to identify suitable personnel to recommend for promotion to officer level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3354/97]

Minister for Defence (Mr. Barrett)

It is the policy to fill all appointments in the FCA and An Slua Muirí in the ranks of commandant and captain and all senior NCO appointments (CQMS and higher) subject to the availability of suitably qualified personnel. The military authorities have advised that the following appointments listed are currently vacant:

Command	Commandant Vacancies	Captain Vacancies	Senior NCO Vacancies	Remarks
Eastern Command
8 Infantry Battalion	1	—	—	Judicial Review proceedings ongoing.
7 Field Artillery Regiment	—	1	—	No officer qualified.
11 Cavalry Squadron	—	4	—	1 being processed; no officers qualified for other 3 posts.
11 Field Engineer Company	—	1	—	No officer qualified.
11 Field Medical Company	—	1	—	No officer qualified.
6 Field Military Police Company	—	—	1 CQMS	Likely to be filled in June 1997.
Headquarters, Southern Command FCA	1	—	—	No officer qualified. (Engineer)
11 Infantry Battalion	1	—	2 Coy Sgts	No officer qualified for Commandant vacancy until 1998. No suitable candidates for NCO appointments.
15 Infantry Battalion	2	—	1 BQMS2 Coy Sgts1 CQMS	Officer vacancies being processed at present. NCO appointments awaiting Senior NCO Course.
2 Air Defence Regiment	—	2	1 Coy Sgt1 CQMS	No officer qualified until July 1997. No NCOs qualified.
3 Cavalry Squadron	—	3	—	No officers qualified.
3 Field Engineer Company	—	1	—	No officer qualified.
3 Field Supply and Transport Company	1	—	—	Being processed at present.
1 Field Medical Company	1	—	—	No officer qualified. (Doctor)
3 Field Medical Company	1	2	—	No officers qualified. (Doctors)
3 Field Military Police	1	—	—	No officer qualified until August, 1997.
Curragh Command
Headquarters, Curragh Command FCA	1	—	—	No officer qualified. (Engineer)
Western Command
16 Infantry Battalion	1	—	—	Being processed at present.
17 Infantry Battalion	1	1	—	Being processed at present.
18 Infantry Battalion	1	2	1 CQMS	All appointments being processed at present.
25 Infantry Battalion	1	1	—	No officers qualified in Sub-Unit area.
5 Field Artillery Regiment	2	1	—	Being processed at present.
8 Field Artillery Regiment	—	1	—	No officer qualified in Sub-unit area.
9 Field Artillery Regiment	—	1	—	Being processed at present.
5 Field Engineer Company	—	1	—	No officer qualified until July 1997.
5 Field Signals Company	—	1	—	No officer qualified until July 1997.
5 Field Medical Company	1	—	—	No officer qualified. (Doctor)
An Slua Muirí
Number 1 Company	—	1	—	No officer qualified until March 1997.
Number 3 Company	—	2	—	No officers qualified until March 1997 and March 1998.
Number 4 Company	—	3	—	No officers qualified until March 1997.
Number 5 Company	—	1	—	No officer qualified until April 1998.