Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 1019: To ask the Minister for Defence the reason there has been no recruitment for Air Corps cadets in the past two years; if there is a recruitment freeze for cadets in the Air Corps; if it is proposed to make cadetships available in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1142/09]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 1021: To ask the Minister for Defence the reason the competition in respect of Air Corps cadetships has been cancelled in 2009 for the second successive year in view of the fact that the Air Corps have been giving career talks to leaving certificate students on becoming a cadet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1197/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1019 and 1021 together.

I am informed by the Military Authorities that in relation to the Air Corps in 2008 there was no requirement to recruit Air Corps Cadets. This position is a function of the number of serving pilots, the number in training, the number of retirements and other anticipated departures. I can confirm that the same position pertains for 2009. There is no requirement to recruit Air Corps Cadets this year. As regards the career talks to students, the position is that the Defence Forces receive requests to give career talks at schools. At these talks they make the students aware of the different careers available within the Defence Forces.

However whilst there are specific career paths in the Defence Forces it does not necessarily follow that there will be an opening for any or all of the careers in any given year. The upper age limit for applicants for the Air Corps Cadetship Competition is currently under 28 years of age on 1 October in the year of the competition. Leaving Certificate students will not only be able to consider this as a career but will also be eligible to apply for a number of years for any future Cadetship Competitions.