The strength of the Army ranger wing, ARW, was sufficient to meet anticipated operational requirements, Minister of State for Defence Tom Kitt told the Dáil.
Mr Kitt said that the ARW actively pursued a policy of recruitment to maintain strength levels and the delivery of required military capabilities.
"The unit recruits from all services with a continual advertising campaign by means of: road shows and seminars in brigades, corps, the Naval Service and Air Corps conducted by ARW personnel; and advertising in the Defence Forces' Connectmagazine."
Fine Gael defence spokesman Jimmy Deenihan said that last year 100 people applied to join the Army ranger wing.
"Eventually, approximately three were recruited. However, this year only 15 people applied and no course has taken place. Obviously, if five people left this year, and there is natural wastage, it is clear that the Army ranger wing numbers will be depleted. Would the Minister of State agree that this is the elite wing of our Army?
"If we agree to go to Chad the ARW will be the forerunner of the main mission and will prepare the ground. They are highly trained and as good as any in the world. They can parachute and dive. They are medics and all-rounders. It is important that this wing of the Army is maintained at its present level and people should be encouraged to join. If the Minister of State can give me the figures, he might also be able to explain why there has been a fall-off in numbers and people are not applying to join the rangers."
Mr Kitt said that for security and operational reasons it had not been military practice to publish exact details of the establishment or actual strength of the ARW.
"There is merit in sticking to that position. It is critical that the high standards required for entry into the unit are maintained," he said.
