Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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10. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of females who were recruited for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service in 2019 and to date in 2020; the number of females currently in training in each branch of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9238/20]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The following table illustrates the number of females that were inducted into the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service in 2019 and 2020 (as at 27th May 2020) by Branch:

The majority of inductions due in the first quarter of 2020 were postponed due to Covid 19.  The Defence Forces are in the process of finalizing their amended 2020 induction capacity, taking into account the impact of public health guidelines. 

All members of the Permanent Defence Force who are not deployed on operations or engaged in duties, while remaining available for service at all times, are otherwise engaged in constant ongoing training.

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. This is underlined by a commitment in the Programme for Government to increase the level of female participation in the Defence Forces.