Defence Forces

Tuesday, 2 December 2025

Questions (55)

Ryan O'Meara

Question:

55. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Defence the existing direct entry, lateral entry and re-entry mechanisms for recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force; the number of personnel recruited under these mechanisms in 2025; if she intends creating additional entry pathways; the timeline for delivery of each pathway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68025/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Defence

The Permanent Defence Force recruit through a combination of general service recruitment, officer cadets, and direct entry specialists. Challenges exist in recruiting and retaining certain specialists due to competing demands for such specialists in other sectors in the current buoyant economy.

In addition to traditional recruitment, several measures have been introduced aimed at restoring and retaining capacity and boosting specialist numbers. These include an ongoing scheme which permits former personnel with specialist skills to re-enter the Permanent Defence Force. In 2025, as of the 31 October, this has resulted in 27 re-enlistments (25 Army and 2 Naval Service) and 2 Army Officers being recommissioned.

Direct Entry is utilised in the recruitment of specialists. In 2025 as of the 31 October, this has resulted in 34 inductions consisting of 1 Defence Force School of Music Conductor, 1 Defence Force Medical Officer, 4 Naval Service Electrical Engineering Officers, 1 Naval Service Marine Engineering Officers, 2 Naval Service Operations Branch Officers, 2 Direct Entry Nurses, 3 Direct Entry Grooms for Equitation School, 8 Air Corps Aircraft Maintenance Technicians, 2 Naval Service Direct Entry Electrical Artificer, 1 Naval Service Direct Entry Hull Artificer, 3 Naval Service Direct Entry Radio/Radar Technicians and 6 Naval Service Direct Entry Engine Room Artificers.

All elements of the recruitment process, including the potential for new recruitment pathways and competitions, remain under ongoing review by the Defence Forces.

It has not been possible to provide the requested information as pertaining to the Reserve Defence Force within the time frame available. I will respond to the Deputy when the information is to hand.

The following deferred reply was received under standing orders.

I refer to the above-referenced Parliamentary Question and my original reply stating that it was not possible to provide the required information in respect of the Reserve Defence Forces within the timeframe available. I am now in a position to do so.

In 2023, on foot of a recommendation of the Commission on the Defence Forces, the Defence Forces Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) was established. One of ORA’s priorities was the development of the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) Regeneration and Development Plan (RDFRDP), published in July 2024, which coordinates 27 individual actions to drive forward recruitment and retention; resourcing; training and education; as well as integration and deployment.

In addition to general service recruitment, a further action within the RDFRDP is the enabling of multi-induction streams, which will ensure the RDF has as many induction mechanisms as possible, including direct entry, lateral entry and re- entry schemes. Work is ongoing for this action; however, there is currently limited provision for Direct Entry and Re-Entry. In this context, the military authorities have advised that there were 7 re-joiners in the Army Reserve in 2025 and there are currently 8 direct entry candidates being processed.

The initiatives contained in the RDF Regeneration and Development Plan are generating positive change and increased momentum towards a regenerated, trained and capable RDF to support the Permanent Defence Forces and the work in 2026 will build on that success.

I trust that this clarifies the matter.