Defence Forces

Tuesday, 10 February 2026

Questions (316)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

316. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence if she is aware that members of the Defence Forces with over 21 years’ service are currently being discharged; if she is aware of any directives from her Department to discharge up to 1,000 personnel from the Defence Forces; and if any member of the Defence Forces who wishes to remain in service will be afforded the option to do so, particularly given the ongoing retention challenges within the Defence Forces. [9781/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Defence

Whilst personnel are discharged from the Defence Forces for various reasons such as retirements, there are no members being discharged solely on the basis of having completed 21 years’ service. My Department has not issued any directive instructing the Defence Forces to discharge 1,000 personnel on this basis.

The Deputy will appreciate that retention levels are not influenced by a single factor and just one of the measures that has already been introduced has been the increase of the mandatory retiring age for all members of the Permanent Defence Forces to 62, enabling members of the Defence Forces the opportunity to extend their careers in the Defence Forces.

This is just one of a number of retention measures have been delivered in recent years and I would like to assure the Deputy that I remain committed to continuing measures to progress recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces.