Does the Minister consider that conditions of service and pay and unsocial hours are a deterrent to recruitment?

Sin ceist eile.

It arises on the question.

It does not arise.

Are the unsocial hours, together with pay and conditions, a deterrent to potential recruits?

If the Deputy puts down a question on this matter I am sure the Minister will answer it.

Deputy Hegarty put down a question and was not given an answer.

25.

asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the success he has had in recruiting direct entry officers to the Naval Service this year; the number recruited; and whether those recruited were marine engineers or navigation officers.

A total of eight direct entry officers have been appointed to the Naval Service in 1980 to date, comprising five marine engineer officers and three navigation officers.

The supplementary I asked earlier arises on this question. Are the long hours and the conditions of service and pay a deterrent to potential recruits?

I am answering the question asked. The Naval Service have enlisted eight direct entry officers. I am sure they must have found the remuneration quite satisfactory.

Question No. 26.

Will the Minister outline the success achieved in recruited direct entry officers to the Naval Service this year?

The success is shown by the fact that eight direct entry officers have enlisted this year to date.

How many were sought and how many applicants were there?

Significant inducements have been used during the past few years in order to attract suitably qualified direct entry officers to the Naval Service. In the case of engineer officers these include appointment to the rank of lieutenant in the Naval Service, payment of short-service pay in addition to normal pay amounting to £12,250 over five years and, in the case of officers who hold a first-class certificate of competency, entry on the fifth point of the lieutenant's pay scale. The following are examples of amounts which may be earned by direct entry officers over five years: officers with a first-class certificate of competency, £63,659; officers with a second-class certificate of competency, £60,937. A patrol duty allowance of £5.67 per day for each day spent away from base is also payable to officers on sea-going duty.

How many applicants were there?

There were eight this year.

That is the number recruited. What was the number of applicants?

We cannot remain all day on this question. Next question, please.

26.