asked the Minister for Defence the current strength of the regular Army; and the number of men it is proposed to recruit in the currently advertised recruiting campaign.

The strength of the permanent Defence Force, including the Naval Service, on the 30th September, 1968, was 1,115 officers, 33 cadets and 7,062 non-commissioned officers and privates.

The aim of the present recruiting campaign is to speed up recruiting with a view to bringing the strength of non-commissioned officers and privates up to 7,500. Recruiting is not, however, limited to the duration of the present advertising campaign but is continuous throughout the year.

Was recruiting not stopped for about two years?

It was not fully stopped.

It was discouraged. It was not encouraged.

There were no advertisements.

That is so. We were getting sufficient for the day.

42.

asked the Minister for Defence if he will state (a) the present deficiency in the officer strength of the permanent Defence Force as compared with the peace establishment, (b) the number of officers who retired (i) voluntarily and (ii) on reaching the age limit or on other grounds in each of the years from 1965 to 1968 and (c) the number of cadets graduating from the military college in each of the years from 1965 to 1968.

As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it in the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

(a) Deficiency in Officer strength compared with peace establishment as on the 31st October 1968=270.

(b) Number of Officers who retired, resigned etc., in each of the years 1965 to 1968.

(c) Number of Cadets graduating from the Military College in each of the years 1965 to 1968.

43.

asked the Minister for Defence (a) the deficiency in the various enlisted ranks of the permanent Defence Force as compared with the peace establishment and (b) the number of desertions from the permanent Defence Force in each of the years 1960 to 1968, inclusive.

As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it in the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

(a) Deficiency in the various enlisted ranks of the Permanent Defence Force as compared with Peace Establishments as on the 30th September, 1968.

(b) Number of Desertions from the Per manent Defence Force in each of the years 1960 to 1968.