I propose to take Questions Nos. 601 and 603 together.
The attached document provides the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as at the 30th June 2020 (the latest figures available), broken down by rank, service and gender.
Strength of Permanent Defence Force
The capacity of the Defence Forces to
induct and train recruits was severely impacted by the COVID-19 situation but those aspects of the induction process that could be conducted remotely continued throughout the year and inductions/training have been resumed taking public health guidelines into account.
The table below shows the total inductions to the Permanent Defence Force up to 28th July 2020, broken down by branch and gender. This encompasses general service recruits, re-commissioned officers and direct entrant specialists.
Rank
|
Total
|
Male
|
Female
|
Army
|
44
|
39
|
5
|
Naval Service
|
28
|
25
|
3
|
Air Corps
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
Total Inductions
|
75
|
67
|
8
|