Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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258. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will direct his Department to openly publish the specific gradings of eyesight acuity permitted as part of the Defence Forces recruitment procedures. [45375/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There are a number of physical and medical standards laid down by the Military Authorities, including specified vision requirements, for entry to all branches of the Defence Forces. These requirements are based on the professional advice of the Medical Branch and having regard to the nature of the job, the duties of military service and the training exercises undertaken by members of the Defence Forces.

Details of the minimum vision requirements for the Cadetship, Apprentice and other Direct Entry Competitions held in order to fill specialist positions in the Permanent Defence Force, are outlined in the governing Terms and Conditions for each competition. These Terms and Conditions are published on the Defence Forces website: when advertised.

The vision requirements for General Service enlistment to the Defence Forces are normal colour vision as measured by Ishihara Method and visual acuity, which gives a military visual acuity Grade of 3, for applications for the Naval Service and Grades 1, 2, or 3 for applications for the Army and Air Corps. However, only Naval Service Recruits with visual acuity of Grade 1 are posted to the Seaman's Branch and the Communications Branch of the Naval Service.

The eyesight gradings are explained as follows:

- Grade 1 is Unaided vision of not less that 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other.

- Grade 2 is Unaided vision less than in Grade 1 which is not less than either 6/12 in each eye or 6/6 in the right eye and 6/36 in the left eye.

- Grade 3 is Unaided vision less than in Grade 1, but which is not less than 6/36 in each eye and can be corrected to Grade 1.

As the minimum vision requirements for General Service Recruitment are currently not published, I have asked my Officials to arrange to have these requirements published as part of the next General Service Recruitment campaign.