Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Defence when an officers course for non-commissioned officers will be held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2781/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 36 together.

Significant progress has been made recently in implementing schemes to enable more commissioning from the ranks.

The revised cadetship competition is now seen as the primary means of commissioning from the ranks. The cadetship competition has been revised to increase the maximum entry age to 28 and to award bonus marks to candidates with previous experience in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) or Reserve Defence Force (RDF).

Results for the 2005 and 2006 cadetship competitions were encouraging with a total of 28 applicants with military service in the Defence Forces being successful in the 2005 cadetship competition and a further 23 applicants with military service being successful in the 2006 cadetship competition.

In addition, in the past two years, 3 members of the Defence Forces were commissioned as officers from Direct Entry Competitions for appointments as Engineer Officers in the Corps of Engineers and Conductors in the Army School of Music.

Consultations with the representative associations are nearing completion regarding the conditions for an internal Commissioning From the Ranks competition, which it is intended to hold in the near future. This competition will provide an opportunity for enlisted personnel who have passed the cadet entry age to compete for entry on a potential Officers Course and ultimately, a commission. The competition offers the possibility of enhancing the Officer Corps with the skills and expertise of these personnel. The outcome of this competition will inform policy on the issue of similar future competitions.