Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. The statistics came out fast so I did not pick them all up. There are two points in this regard. When the height requirement was reduced there was an expectation of a greater entry by women into the Defence Forces. That has not happened. In comparison to other countries, in particular the United States, we do not seem to attract the same numbers of women into the Defence Forces. If the Minister of State has the information to hand, will he say what additional incentives are being provided in order to attract young females into the Defence Forces?

One of the principal requirements in this regard, for example, was for the Defence Forces to provide a crèche in the Curragh. The former Minister set up a committee to consider that, which reported and made a strong recommendation. There is a crèche in Leinster House for a smaller number of people whereas there are 2,000 people in the Curragh. Will the Minister of State tell us the status of that crèche at present? Is there a programme for visiting schools in order to promote the Defence Forces among schoolchildren?

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