Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to increase the numbers of female members of the Defence Forces, including the Naval Service. [38667/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. Unlike many other national armed forces, the Defence Forces have no restrictions as regards the assignment of men or women to the full range of operational and administrative duties. All promotions and career courses are open to both genders on merit. A number of initiatives have been taken in recent years. In 2006 the minimum height requirement for joining the Defence Forces was reduced from 5' 4" to 5' 2". This increased the potential recruitment pool of females from 60% to 90% of female population.

In 2007, the Department of Defence received the report of a TNS/MRBI study it had commissioned, titled "Retention and Recruitment of Women in The Defence Forces". This research was commissioned with a view to identifying areas where action could be taken to maximise the number of women applicants to the Defence Forces, hence increasing the number joining. The question of retention was also studied.

The results of the research were, on balance, positive. Three-quarters of serving women agreed that the Defence Forces are a good place to work. In addition there was a very high level of satisfaction (70% – 80%) expressed as regards the issues of job security, pay and benefits and the variety of work on offer.

The recommendations of the report on the issue of attracting and retaining women are being implemented and the challenges identified therein continue to be addressed. Those challenges include raising the profile of a career for women in the Defence Forces in their recruitment campaigns, promoting a dual gender image and providing education to career guidance teachers on the role of women in the Defence Forces.

The Defence Forces on the direction of the Chief of Staff is establishing a Working Group to examine levels of female participation in the organisation. The Working Group will, inter alia , inquire into why women apply or do not apply for positions within the Defence Forces and what can be done to increase awareness among the female population of a career in the Defence Forces. The data gathered from the review will be used to formulate new policies in this area, specifically aimed at increasing female participation in the Defence Forces.

The number of female personnel serving in the Permanent Defence Force on 30 November 2011, the last date for which figures are available, was 565, of which 468 were serving in the Army, 31 in the Air Corps and 66 in the Naval Service. In terms of ranks the breakdown of female personnel serving on 31 October 2011 was 146 Officers, 186 Non Commissioned Officers and 228 Privates and 5 Cadets. The percentage of female personnel serving on 31 October 2011 was 5.98% of the overall strength of the Force on that date. This compares favourably with 2000 when 4.08% of personnel were female. I also understand that of the 240 recruits currently being inducted to the Permanent Defence Force, 4 are female.