The Programme for Government 2025 - Securing Ireland’s Future - sets out a number of commitments relating to national security. This strategy also outlines priorities for recruitment and retention within the Defence Forces.
In this regard, Government previously approved a move to a level of Permanent Defence Force capability equivalent to Level of Ambition (LOA) 2 requiring an 11,500-establishment figure including a civilian component by 2028.
To support this and the implementation of related measures, Budget 2026 has provided a record allocation of €1.49 billion for the Defence Sector, an increase of €145 million on 2025. These funds include, among other things, a provision for the recruitment of a net 400 additional PDF members per annum.
In order to meet Government targets, the Defence Forces are making concerted efforts to increase recruitment. Figures provided by the Defence Forces for 2025 indicate a growth in the strength with 728 inductions to the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) achieved to the end of October which exceeds the total of 708 recorded for last year in its entirety. Recruitment of vital specialist personnel via Direct Entry competitions is notably strong for the year to date with the total number of personnel inducted the highest since the commencement of Direct Entry in 2019. Discharge figures have decreased, with a year-on-year reduction of 68 in the number of personnel leaving the PDF as at 31 October. Interest in a career in the Defence Forces is also very high with application numbers well above the total received for all of 2024.
These figures reflect the collective impact of a range of critical enabling measures introduced by Government to support and bolster Defence Forces recruitment. These include:
• Increases in the maximum ages of recruitment and retirement respectively.
• The extension of private secondary healthcare to all personnel.
• The application of the provisions of the Working Time Directive across the Defence Forces subject to certain exemptions.
• Increases to the Patrol Duty allowance payable to Naval Service personnel at sea which has been doubled after ten days at sea in a calendar year.
• Extension of the Naval Service tax credit for a further five years.
• Extension of the Service Commitment Scheme for pilots in the Air Corps to Air Traffic Control personnel.
• Engagement of external expertise to support recruitment in the Naval Service.
• Introduction of a Professional Instructor Payment for Officers.
In addition, there has been significant progress on pay with all personnel benefiting in August of this year from the latest in a succession of pay increases delivered under the terms of the current public service pay agreement. Recruit pay, on completion of training (which takes approximately 24 weeks), starts at €41,880. A school leaver Cadet, on commissioning, starts at just over €45,000 rising to over €51,000 after two years. Where a graduate joins the pay rate on commissioning begins at over €51,000. A further pay increase of 1% is due in February 2026.
While challenges undoubtedly remain, the allocation of record levels of expenditure to the Defence sector, and the policy initiatives currently in train, is indicative of Government’s commitment to bolstering Defence Forces recruitment and retention and, by extension, enhancing the security of the State.
