asked the Minister for Defence the number of applications for Army cadetships for each year from 1973 to date; the percentage of the total applications which came from sons of serving commissioned officers; or of retired commissioned officers; the total number of cadets recruited from those applications; and the percentage of the number recruited that were sons of serving commissioned officers or of retired commissioned officers.

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

Statement.

* The application forms completed by applicants for cadetships do not require applicants to indicate the occupations of their fathers.

26.

asked the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied with the recruiting procedures for Army cadetships; if he is satisfied that the best applicants are always recruited; and if he intends to review existing procedures.

The procedure for the selection of Army cadets is laid down in Defence Force Regulations and is kept under constant review.

I am satisfied that the procedure provides for the selection of the most suitable applicants for cadetships.