Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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52. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on the results of campaigns to encourage the recruitment of more women into the Defence Forces; if these campaigns are proving successful; his plans to continue these campaigns into 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44048/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women in the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. This is underlined by a commitment in the Programme for Government to increase the level of female participation in the Defence Forces. A number of specific initiatives have been implemented to increase the level of female participation. These include the targeting of female websites as part of recruitment campaigns and visits to female schools by Defence Forces personnel to promote a career in the Defence Forces to women.

In 2016, a total of 47 females were inducted to the Defence Forces, representing 6.81% of the overall intake. For 2017, a total of 53 females have been inducted, representing 9.4% of the overall intake.

In 2016, 10 female cadets were inducted, representing 11.23% of Officer Cadets. This year, 20 female cadets were inducted, representing 20.2% of Officer Cadets.

Notwithstanding recent proactive initiatives to increase female participation, I believe that there is a need to continue to develop and promote strategies over the life span of the White Paper that support increased female participation in the Defence Forces.