Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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66. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on reports that training for Defence Forces recruits has been reduced in a bid to reverse an exodus of personnel from the organisation; if the period of basic training for new recruits has been cut from 18 weeks to 16; and his views on whether this is preventing the Defence Forces from reaching minimal operational strength. [44040/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The changes to the Recruit Training Syllabus were the result of a routine review.

Following consultation with Formations, Brigade Training Centres and utilising recruit input by way of questionnaire, the syllabus was reviewed and subsequently reduced in March 2017 from a 17 week course to a 15 week course. The reduction in training time arose from elements of training being deemed more appropriate to a later stage within the development cycle of the enlisted soldier, than hitherto had been the case.

All career courses within the Defence Forces are accredited to outside academic institutions such as NUIM and IT Carlow. These institutions are represented on the Defence Forces Academic Council. From a Quality Assurance perspective, all syllabi and any subsequent changes must be presented to and passed by the Defence Forces Academic Council. The changes to the recruit syllabus were passed by the Academic Council.

I am satisfied that the changes made to the Recruit Training Syllabus are reasonable in the circumstances and were based on a course requirement review.