Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 375: To ask the Minister for Defence the position for recruitment into the Air Corps, in view of the fact that 30 recruits and five apprentices were notified that they were successful in their applications and they would commence their training and to date they have not been given a start date; if his attention has been drawn to the disappointment and distress that this is causing to persons particularly a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37559/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Earlier this year the projected figure for recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force in 2008 was in the region of 690 general service recruits, 30 apprentices and 45 Cadets. To date in 2008 a total of 506 general service recruits have been enlisted of which 440 were to the Army and 66 to the Naval Service. Following the Cadetship Competition 41 Cadets commenced their cadet training on 29 September, 2008. While the military authorities had planned to enlist, in December 2008, general service recruits and apprentices to fill vacancies in the Air Corps I have been assured that no candidate for these positions has been notified that their application has been successful.

The individual to whom you refer is an applicant for general service enlistment in to the Air Corps. The position is that there will be no general service enlistment to the Permanent Defence Force between now and the end of the year. In common with other areas of the public service a payroll cut of 3% has been applied to the Defence Forces for 2009. Recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force will be rescheduled in order to meet the revised allocation; however the recruitment schedule for 2009 is not yet available.