Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 February 2026
218. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the number of vacancies by rank currently in the Defence Forces Equitation School; the timeframe for filling each of those vacancies, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8187/26]
View answerThe military authorities have provided the requested establishment and strength figures for each rank in the Equitation School in the table below:
|
Rank |
Establishment |
Strength |
Vacancies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lt Col |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Comdt |
1 |
2 |
+ 1 |
|
Captain |
4 |
1 |
-3 |
|
Lieutenant |
2 |
5 |
+3 |
|
Company Sergeant |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Company Quarter master |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Sergeant |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
Corporal |
5 |
2 |
3 |
|
Private |
21 |
18 |
3 |
|
Recruits- 2* Training |
0 |
7 |
N/A |
|
Cadets |
0 |
2 |
N/A |
|
Total |
39 |
40 |
|
Vacancies in the Defence Forces are filled using a combination of promotion and recruitment via external competitions. In the case of the latter, the Defence Forces have been making concerted efforts to increase recruitment in order to meet government targets. A total of 790 inductions to the Permanent Defence Force were achieved in 2025 – the highest in 20 years. Interest in a career in the Defence Forces was notably high in 2025 with a total of 16,510 applications received which represents an increase of over 20% on the 13,348 applications received in 2024. Recruitment to the Defence Forces remains ongoing at present via General Service recruitment and a range of Direct Entry competitions for specialist positions and I anticipate that the 2026 Cadetship competitions will launch soon.
Government has introduced a range of key enabling measures to support and drive Defence Forces recruitment and retention. These include 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. The Patrol Duty allowance payable to Naval Service personnel at sea has been doubled after ten days at sea in a calendar year while the Naval Service tax credit has been extended for a further five years. There has also been significant progress on pay with a further pay award effected for all personnel on the 1st of this month.
To support these ongoing recruitment efforts and the enabling measures put in place by Government, 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 provision for the recruitment of a net 400 additional PDF members per annum.
Though challenges undoubtedly remain, the allocation of record levels of expenditure, coupled with the recruitment and retention initiatives currently in train, is indicative of the government's commitment to Defence.
