Vol. 551 No. 2
169 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence when the next potential officer course is expected to commence, as recommended by the Gleeson commission report; when the last such course was completed; the number of officers that were commissioned as a result of this course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9839/02]
Potential officer courses are held within the Defence Forces from time to time and non-commissioned personnel who successfully complete such courses are commissioned as officers in the Permanent Defence Force. A potential officer course commenced in September 1999 and 15 former enlisted personnel were commissioned as officers in the Army and Air Corps on 3 July 2000.
In addition to potential officer courses, commissioning from the ranks competitions are held from time to time. In March 2000, three non-commissioned officers were commissioned for appointment for the information technology area. In September 2001, eight were commissioned as watch-keeping officers in the Naval Service.
