Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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992. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which the number of women in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps has increased on an annual basis throughout the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27446/16]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The information sought in the Question is set out in tabular format below:

The Government are 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. The Defence Forces have no restrictions with regard to the assignment of men or women to the full range of operat ional and administrative duties , and all promotions and career courses are open to both sexes on merit.

A key impediment in achieving greater numbers of women serving in the Defence Forces is the lack of women recruitment applicants relative to men. This may be as a result of societal perception and attitudes to female soldiers and officers. There have been a number of recent initiatives to encourage greater female participation, such as:

- The introduction of best practices in recruitment, such as the adjustment of physical standards for female applicants,

- Special consideration is paid to women as a target group for recruitment,

- A balanced composition between men and women on recruitment and selection boards,

- All promotions and career courses are open to both sexes on merit,

- A Gender Advisor has been appointed to promote gender equality policies and training within the Defence Forces and,

- Work is well-progressed on a Defence Forces Equality and Diversity Policy, which will be published in the near future.

Over the course of the White Paper 2015, further initiatives will be developed to encourage more women to apply for the Defence Forces and to increase female participation at all ranks. This will include a survey to identify any impediments to the advancement of women in the PDF, as well as the impact of the requirements of career courses and overseas service on f emale retention and advancement. The development and active management of a Diversity and an Inclusion Strategy in the Defence Forces, building on existing policies in rel ation to ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and equality will also be included.