Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Defence his views, further to Parliamentary Question No. 48 of 22 May 2008, on a pilot project whereby military personnel would visit first level and second level schools with a view to familiarising students with the wide range of activities carried out by the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26015/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I can clarify that there is no pilot project whereby military personnel visit first level and second level schools with a specific view to familiarising students on the activities carried out by the Defence Forces. Rather, there is ongoing contact between the Defence Forces and the secondary schools and third level institutions primarily with a recruitment focus.

As I indicated in my reply to Question No. 48 on the 22nd May 2008, the position is that during visits to schools and third level institutions by Defence Force recruitment teams, the briefings include an explanation of the peacekeeping role of the Defence Forces throughout the world. The briefings also outline the Defence Forces involvement in previous and current peace support operations.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Defence the steps he is taking to facilitate the commissioning of officers from the enlisted ranks in view of his recent statement that every private soldier joining the Army should have a reasonable expectation of being promoted to senior officer level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26018/08]

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Defence the progress made in facilitating entry into commissioned ranks by serving soldiers; the options available to a serving soldier who wishes to become an officer; the numbers of soldiers who have become officers in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25445/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 137 together.

Significant progress has been made recently in 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 2006 and 2007 cadetship competitions were encouraging with a total of 23 applicants with military service in the Defence Forces being successful in the 2006 cadetship competition and a further 18 applicants with military service being successful in the 2007 cadetship competition.

In addition, since 2005, 5 members of the Defence Forces were commissioned as officers from Direct Entry Competitions for appointments as Engineer Officers in the Corps of Engineers, Conductors in the Army School of Music and Aeronautical Engineer Officers in the Air Corps. Arrangements are currently being made to commission one further member of the Defence Forces to fill an additional Aeronautical Engineer Officer vacancy in the Air Corps.

An internal Commissioning From the Ranks competition was held in June 2007. This competition provided an opportunity for enlisted personnel who had passed the cadet entry age to compete for entry on a potential Officers Course and ultimately, a commission. As a result of the competition, a total of 24 applicants (23 males and 1 female) were selected from the ranks of Junior and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers. Following successful completion of training in the Cadet School, these enlisted personnel were commissioned as officers of the Permanent Defence Force on 10 June 2008.

The policy on the running of similar future competitions, to provide Non-Commissioned Officers with the opportunity of obtaining commissioned rank, is being addressed. This issue is also included in the Defence Forces Modernisation Action Plan agreed under "Towards 2016". I have also asked the Chief of Staff for his views on the prospect of facilitating suitably qualified enlisted personnel to compete internally for technical/professional posts in the officer ranks in the future.