Mark Wall
Question:25. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Defence the number of females serving by rank in January 2025 and 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52071/26]
View answerWednesday, 8 July 2026
Questions (25)
Written answers
The recruitment and retention of women in the Defence Forces is a key priority for me, as Minister for Defence, and I am advised by the military authorities that as at 31 May 2026, the latest date for which such figures are available, the whole-time equivalent strength of female personnel in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) stood at 592 or 7.6% of a total strength of 7,823 personnel.
The table below shows the number of female serving by rank in the Permanent Defence Force as of the 31st December 2024 and 31st December 2025.
|
Rank |
31 December 2024 |
31 December 2025 |
|
Colonel |
1 |
1 |
|
Lt Colonel |
7 |
9 |
|
Commandant |
75 |
73 |
|
Captain |
40 |
44 |
|
Lieutenant |
44 |
45 |
|
Sgt Major |
0 |
2 |
|
BQMS |
0 |
1 |
|
CS |
6 |
7 |
|
CQMS |
13 |
15 |
|
Sgt |
64 |
62 |
|
CPL |
84 |
91 |
|
Private |
216 |
178 |
|
Cadet |
18 |
21 |
|
Total |
568 |
585 |
A total of 2,198 applications were received from female candidates across all recruitment competitions for the Permanent Defence Force in 2025, which represented an increase of 468 or 27% on the total of 1,730 received in 2024. There has been a further 1,547 applications from female candidates up to the 31st May 2026.
Significantly, last year also saw a total of 70 females inducted to the Permanent Defence Force, an increase on the 40 recorded for 2024. As of the 31st May 2026, the number of inductions of females into the Permanent Defence Force stands at 30.
A range of initiatives aimed at increasing the level of female participation in the Permanent Defence Force are currently in train. These include:
• Inclusion of the female perspective in marketing
• DF female Recruitment Awareness campaigns
• Access to both PDF women and men at career and outreach events
• Review of recruitment processes to ensure fairness
• Review of language in job advertisements to ensure that it is inclusive
• Female ad campaign was launched in February 2026 and the first cycle has been completed.
• Adapted fitness tests
The Government remains committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and have set ambitious targets to increase female participation in the Defence Forces.