John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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797. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of current members of the Defence Forces who are parents broken down by gender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14953/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am unable to provide a response to the Deputy as I am advised by the Military Authorities that these details are not routinely recorded and there are no parameters within the Defence Forces Personnel Management System Database to faciliate an accurate return.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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799. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of women recruited to the Defence Forces in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14955/21]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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801. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces has undertaken recruitment drives or campaigns specifically targeted at women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14957/21]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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802. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces has undertaken recruitment drives or campaigns specifically targeted at citizens from an ethnic background; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14958/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 799, 801 and 802 together.

The following table shows the number of women inducted into the Permanent Defence Force in each of the past five years:

These include the launching of a strategic campaign with the specific objective of increasing the induction of women into the organisation. In addition to traditional media, the campaign was supported by social media posts, using serving female personnel as role models.

Current campaigns have an enduring requirement to reach out to females within the recruitment demographic via a variety of channels, including social media, sporting organisations and schools.

The military authorities further advise that potential applicants from an ethnic background are included in the target demographic that the Defence Forces seeks to reach in regular campaigns and ongoing promotions through various channels.

The target demographic and associated gatekeepers, are reached through traditional media, schools and various recruitment events, including multicultural events when such opportunities present.