asked the Minister for Defence the number of soldiers who left the Defence Forces after their three years' service expired for each of the years 1975 to 1978 inclusive.

The number of soldiers, non-commissioned officers and men, discharged from the Permanent Defence Force on completion of three years service for each year from 1975 to 1978 was as follows: 1975, 308; 1976, 220; 1977, 449; 1978, 904.

Is the Minister not very concerned with the drastic increase in the number of people who have left the armed forces in the past couple of years?

The figures relate to those who have been discharged on completion of three years service. If the Deputy examines the enlistment of men at the beginning of that three-year period he will find that a large number enlisted in 1975-76. These are now completing their three-year term of service and as is normal a large proportion of them are not re-enlisting for further service. At the same time this is not to say that I am not concerned with the situation. I should have hoped that more of these men would have enlisted for further periods of service but I do not know whether one should be too alarmed at the rate of discharge when one realises that these people are discharging themselves on completion of a three-year period of service and that substantial numbers enlisted in 1975-76.

In view of such a large number leaving the forces might it not be worthwhile investigating the reasons for their leaving? We try to create the impression that the Army should be a career.

Would the Minister agree that the main reason for the large numbers leaving the forces is the situation in relation to pay and conditions? Can the Minister, therefore, assure the House now as he assured us before that urgent consideration will be given to this matter?

The matter of pay and conditions is a separate question but it is one that is under investigation.

Is it under active investigation?

Yes. Let me add also that in addition to the numbers discharged on completion of three years service the numbers discharged with less than three years service were 556 in 1978 compared with 900 in 1975.

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