Thomas Gould
Question:114. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Defence the number of resignations from the Defence Forces in 2025. [71669/25]
View answerTuesday, 16 December 2025
Questions (114)
Written answers
The Government are committed to taking steps to increase recruitment and retention within the Defence Forces. Government has introduced several key measures to support recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces. Notable among these are increases in the maximum ages of recruitment and retirement respectively, the extension of private secondary healthcare to all personnel and the application of the provisions of the Working Time Directive across the Defence Forces subject to certain exemptions. Further measures include a doubling of the Patrol Duty allowance payable to Naval Service personnel after ten days at sea in a calendar year and the extension of the Naval Service tax credit for a further five years. There has been significant progress on pay with all personnel benefiting from a further pay award made in August of this year with the next increase due in February 2026.
The manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services including the number of people who leave the Permanent Defence Force (PDF). I am advised by the Defence Forces that there have been 335 resignations from the PDF in 2025, as at 31 October, the latest date for which this data is available for.
Personnel leave the Defence Forces for a variety of reasons including on age grounds, at end of contract and via voluntary discharges. A significant percentage of those who leave the Defence Forces do so with some form of pension. This can make taking up a position in the private sector very attractive where a full-time position, even at the same rates as those in the Defence Forces, could lead to an increase in an individual’s earnings.
The Commission on the Defence Forces stated in their report that they were satisfied that, in broad terms, levels of average turnover are not out of line with other military organisations internationally. Turnover levels for the past five years have averaged approximately 9%. Last year however saw a significant reduction in the number of discharges. A total of 674 personnel left the Defence Forces which was the lowest in 4 years. This trend has continued in 2025 with 508 discharges recorded to the end of October which represents a year-on-year reduction of 68.
Recruitment data provided to me by the Defence Forces provides further cause for encouragement. Last year saw a stabilisation in numbers with 708 inductions to the PDF and the military authorities have advised me that they are targeting 750 inductions at a minimum for 2025.
While recruitment and retention challenges undoubtedly remain, the allocation of record levels of expenditure to the Defence sector, and the policy initiatives implemented, is indicative of Government’s commitment in this regard.