Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 24: To ask the Minister for Defence the career path a recruit who joins the Defence Forces can take; the length of time they can remain in the Defence Forces as a three star private, a corporal and a sergeant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38201/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Defence Force Regulations provide that a person who enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force before 1 January 1994 may be permitted to continue in service up to the age of sixty years. A person who enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force on or after 1 January 1994 may be permitted to continue in service up to the age of fifty years in the rank of Sergeant and to the age of fifty-six in all higher ranks. Enlisted personnel, in the rank of corporal or private, who enlisted after 1 January 1994, may not serve beyond twenty-one years service in any event.

Under the current contract system a person who enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force after 1 January 1994 is initially enlisted for a period of five years in the Permanent Defence Force, and a further seven years in the Reserve Defence Force.

At the completion of the initial five-year period, the enlisted person may apply for an extension of service from five to nine years, and subsequently from nine to twelve years.

On completion of twelve years service in the PDF, the individual may apply for re-engagement to complete twenty-one years PDF service. Following this, they may apply for continuance in service for two-year periods up to retirement age.

Applications for extensions of service, re-engagement, and continuance are considered under a number of criteria, one of which is Military Courses completed. Under this criterion, personnel who enlisted after 1 January 1994 are required to have completed all courses that would be needed in order to qualify for promotion to the rank of sergeant, or be serving in that higher rank, in order to qualify for continuance in service after 21 years.

Personnel who enlisted after 17 February 2006 are also required to have successfully completed all courses needed to qualify them for promotion to the rank of corporal for re-engagement. Alternatively, such personnel may be serving as technician grade 3 or higher to qualify for re-engagement.