Vol. 573 No. 3
138 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Defence the number of applications received for membership of the Defence Forces arising from the recruitment campaign launched in February 2002; the total number of applications accepted; the total number of recruits currently in training; if he has undertaken a study into the high number of recruits discharged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25259/03]
Since the launch of the most recent recruitment campaign, 1,066 personnel have been recruited into the Permanent Defence Force. Some 822 of these have been general service recruits, 142 officer cadets, 36 apprentices for the Air Corps and 66 from other direct entry competitions. Some 163 of the general service recruits have subsequently been discharged. An examination of an exit questionnaire completed in respect of each recruit prior to discharge from 2002 indicates that personnel left for varying reasons, including to take up civilian employment, to return to further education, unsuited to military life, domestic or family reasons.
In 2002 a total of 4,234 applications were received for consideration for positions in the Permanent Defence Force. Of this figure, 2,750 were applications for general service recruitment. As a result, 500 general service recruits were enlisted, of whom 93 were subsequently discharged. In 2003 to date 3,708 applications have been received for positions in the Permanent Defence Force, of which 2,021 were for general service recruitment. As a result, to date this year, 322 general service recruits have been enlisted, of whom 70 were subsequently discharged. At present there are 151 recruits in training and it is hoped to enlist an additional 110 recruits before the end of the year.
The number of applications received for cadetships in 2002 and 2003 was 1,047 and 1,111, respectively. As a result of the 2002 cadetship competition, 71 cadets were enlisted and from the 2003 cadetship competition 71 cadets commenced cadet training in the Curragh on 29 September 2003. Some 143 applications were received for apprenticeships in the Air Corps and, as a result, 17 Air Corps apprentices were enlisted on 23 September 2002. A total of 250 applications were received for the 2003 Air Corps apprenticeship competition which was advertised on 23 March 2003 and from this competition 19 Air Corps apprentices were enlisted on 1 September 2003.
