A major survey on women's attitudes to military life and a career in the Defence Forces is to be published this month.
The research, the most comprehensive of its type undertaken in the State, will include interviews with serving female members of both the Permanent and the Reserve Defence Forces, and with members of the public.
The results of the survey, undertaken by TNSmrbi, will feed into a Government campaign to attract more women into the Army, according to Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea.
The Minister said the Government was committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Army, Air Corps, Naval Service and the Reserve Defence Force.
There are 551 women serving in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) compared to 244 nine years ago. Female strength levels in the PDF have increased from 4.4 per cent in 2001 to 5.23 per cent at the end of October 2006.
However, Mr O'Dea said he was anxious to ensure that every potential avenue for increasing the number of women in the Defence Forces was maximised within the framework of the Government policy of equal opportunity.
From September 1st last, the minimum height requirement for entry into both the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force for men and women was reduced from 162.56cm (5ft 4ins) to 157.48cm (5ft 2ins).
The change in the height requirement has increased the annual recruitment pool of females from 60 per cent of the adult population to 90 per cent, and males from 97 per cent to 98 per cent.
"It is too early to gauge whether there has been a corresponding increase in the number of female applicants to the Defence Forces. However, I will closely monitor the situation over the coming months," said Mr O'Dea.
Women undergo the same training and receive the same military education as men, and all applicants for service in the Defence Forces are interviewed on an equal basis and then placed in order of merit.
In a submission to the Minister in early December the Irish Federation of University Women called for the special role of women on peacekeeping missions to be emphasised in future Defence Forces recruitment campaigns.
The federation said graphics showing both men and women should be included in adverts and posters for the Defence Forces, and the peacekeeping and security role of the forces should be stressed to attract more women.
It said the department should be more proactive in going to schools to promote a career in the Defence Forces.
It should also give "a lively presentation by a uniformed woman who can tell her story of her experiences during peacekeeping operations".
The federation, which is a member of the University Women of Europe, attended a conference in The Hague in September entitled Peace and Power.
Two of the presentations by women - one by a major in the Dutch navy with peacekeeping experience in northern Afghanistan and one by a police officer who was UNPOL senior personal adviser in Kosovo - emphasised the vital need for women in peacekeeping missions.