Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of serving commissioned officers in respect of the Army, Air Corps and the Naval Service; the number of such officers who have been commissioned from the ranks in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26019/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The current strength of officers in the Permanent Defence Force and number commissioned from the ranks, as at 27 June 2008, is as follows:

One of my main priorities as Minister for Defence has been to provide opportunities for enlisted personnel to advance into the Officer Corps. This policy forms part of the Defence Force Modernisation Agenda and is a commitment in the Programme for Government.

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).

An internal Commissioning From the Ranks competition was held in June 2007. This competition provided an opportunity for enlisted personnel who have passed the cadet entry age to compete for entry on the 9th potential officers course and ultimately, a commission. Following the successful completion of the 9th Potential Officers Course, 24 personnel, drawn from the enlisted ranks, were commissioned on 10 June, 2008. The terms and conditions that will apply to future internal Commissioning from the Ranks competitions will be discussed and agreed under the Pay Agreement and Modernisation Agenda for the Defence Forces.

Apart from the Cadetship competition and the Commissioned from the Ranks competitions, serving Defence Force personnel are eligible to apply for Direct Entry Officer competitions, providing they satisfy the applicable conditions of the competition.