Can the Minister of State tell us if he has the figure for the number of personnel who have left the Defence Forces because of poor pay and the inability of the previous Administration to deal with this matter and if the new Government plan to take any new initiatives in this area?

I can give the Deputy the average monthly figure for each of the last three years. In 1988, the monthly average was 82; in 1987, it was 82 and in 1986, it was 71.

A Cheann Comhairle——

Order, please. I call Deputy Ferris.

I am aware, Sir, as you are, that in my constituency the strength of the Defence Forces is of vital importance. Despite the controversy over the salary scale quite a number of young people are happy to avail of the challenge posed by Membership of the Defence Forces and in that way to set their first opportunity of obtaining employment. I am anxious that the Defence Forces is kept at full strength and for the other matter to be dealt with separately. To my knowledge there have been many resignations.

I have already indicated that the wastage in the Defence Forces now is no greater than it has been in previous years. I would also like to point out, in regard to the establishment figures, that the actual numbers in the Defence Forces have never been higher than 70 per cent of the establishment figures. That is in recent and not so recent times. Therefore, there has been no great outflow from the Defence Forces over the past two years as the figures show.

A Cheann Comhairle——

Order, Deputy Paul Connaughton is offering.

A Cheann Comh-airle——

I will call Deputy Rabbitte.

——I want to continue the question I posed to the Minister of State. Nobody suggested that the phenomenon of the demoralisation of the Defence Forces occurred only during the last couple of years, certainly it was exacerbated during that time. My question to the Minister of State was whether the new Government plan to take any new initiatives to deal with the worsening position in the Defence Forces?

As I said, the Government are deeply conscious of the situation. The new Government will be dealing with this matter in due course.