asked the Minister for Defence the number of men and women recruited to the regular Army within the past five years.

21.

asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider allowing general recruitment to the Army in the near future.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together.

During the five year period 1979-83, 8,902 males were recruited to the Permanent Defence Force. The corresponding figure for women was 66.

The question of the resumption of recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force is constantly kept under review in the light of current strengths and commitments. Arrangements are being made for the intake of a number of recruits in July next.

Is it proposed to recruit more women to the Defence Forces in the next recruiting programme and, having regard to the fact that there are so many people unemployed, would this be a way of at least making some inroads into the problem?

When general recruitment recommences, the question of recruiting further females will be considered. With regard to the second part of the Deputy's supplementary, the cost of paying members of the Defence Forces falls on the taxpayers and, if we were to substantially increase the numbers in the Defence Forces with a view to reducing the unemployment figures, we would be in the fallacious position of the preceeding administration who thought they could cure unemployment by expanding the public service, forgetting that public service pay has to be met by the taxpayer. Therefore, it is not an answer to unemployment.

When recruitment recommences will it be at the same level as the previous recruitment campaign? Could the Minister also indicate whether recruits will be deployed to the various Commands or whether recruitment will be for specific Commands?

I cannot say at what level general recruitment will be when it recommences but, lest there should be any misunderstanding, I should say to the Deputy that recruitment to take up wastage takes place each year although it is very limited in numbers. Because of the need to keep the numbers of operational troops at the maximum and having regard to the fact that women are not allowed to engage in operational duties, this limited recruitment to replace wastage is confined to men. The distribution of the limited numbers between the Commands is decided by the Army authorities having regard to the units which suffer the greatest wastage and which have the greatest demands on them, such as the Border units mentioned by Deputy Bell.

Is it anticipated that there will be recruitment in a considerable quantity to the Western Command, Custume Barracks, Athlone, when general recruitment takes place in July, to which the Minister referred earlier?

I did not say there would be general recruitment in July. I said that arrangements have been made for the intake of a number of recruits to replace wastage which occurred during the previous 12 months. A number will be recruited from the Western Command and the allocation within the Command will be a matter for the Command authorities.

Could the Minister state how many recruits it is proposed to take in July and how they will be allocated around the country?

It is proposed to recruit less than 300 in July who will be spread, pro rata, between the Commands, with a certain number going to the Air Corps.

I am not being testy, I misunderstood the Minister in his earlier reply——

I would never accuse the Deputy of being testy.

I was under the impression that there was general recruitment. Will the 300 which the Minister mentioned in his reply to Deputy De Rossa be spread throughout the country and apportioned accordingly to the various Commands?

That is correct.

Can the Minister say how many of that number will be apportioned to Custume Barracks?

I cannot answer that because the exact number going to the Command has to be decided on and how many go to any particular unit in the Command is a matter for the military authorities and not for me. They will see where the greatest need is within the Command and allocate the recruits accordingly.

When does the Minister propose to carry out general recruitment?

I cannot say because that depends on general policy regarding numbers in the Defence Forces. The present level strikes a balance between the financial resources of the country and the operational needs of the Army and that balance has to be maintained. If, as we hope, the financial resources improve, I should like to see more men taken into the Army because we have to acknowledge that the duties of the present members of the Defence Forces are high and I should like to give relief in that regard. I do not know when the balance will be tilted towards more men.

Would the Minister be optimistic in regard to that happening in 1985?

It would be premature to guess at this stage.

How advanced are the arrangements for recruiting to replace wastage in July? If ex-members are interested in being taken back into the services would consideration be given to them?

Arrangements are always at an advanced stage because there is a big waiting list and a new recruiting campaign has to be undertaken. The procedure is that people on the waiting list are interviewed and, as a result, are placed in order of priority and suitability. It does not necessarily follow that a person who has service would be regarded as an automatic choice for a high place in the list——

Even if they had a very good record?

If they had a very good record one would imagine that they would be high on the list but the numbers are limited and it is a matter for the military authorities to make their own assessment as to who are the most suitable applicants.

Do people on the waiting list have to re-apply?

No, they will be called.