Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 2 Jul 1998

Vol. 493 No. 5

Written Answers. - Army Bands.

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

111 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the numbers in each of the Army bands; and the plans, if any, he has to have separate recruitment for the bands in order that the low numbers can be dealt with which will enable them to function properly and accept engagements. [16593/98]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

The current strength of the Army bands is set out in the tabular statement below:

Band	Strength
No 1 Army Band	37
Band of the Southern Command	31
Band of the Western Command	30
Band of the Curragh Command	32

Recruitment to the Army School of Music is currently under review in the light of the recommendations of the Defence Forces review implementation plan for the overall reduction in the strength of the Defence Forces.