Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 June 2025
40. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress to date in implementing the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces in relation to recruitment and retention of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31218/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe status of the recommendations in the 2022 Report from the Commission on the Defence Forces, under the heading of Strategic HR and Cultural Change are as follows:
• 22 completed
• 18 being progressed
• 5 at the discovery phase
• 2 recommendations yet to commence
Since my appointment as Minister for Defence earlier this year, in addition to a programme of cultural transformation, which is well underway, my focus has been on stabilising the numbers of Defence Force personnel and facilitating the capacity for further increases.
At the time of the 2022 Report from the Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF), the establishment of the PDF was 9,500.
Incrementally over the last number of years, 239 extra positions were agreed, to facilitate the Defence Forces in implementing the report’s recommendations. These positions are in the main filled by promotion of existing staff, with some external direct entry recruitment for key positions including, two one-off competitions conducted in 2024 which resulted in the appointment of a Gender Adviser (GENAD) and a Digital Transformation Officer (DTO), both at the rank of Colonel.
Regarding the implementation of the CODF Report specifically around recruitment, the Deputy may wish to note that:
• The total inductions across General Service Recruitment, Direct Entry, Re-Enlistments and Cadets is trending upwards from a low of 435 in 2022 to 708 in 2024.
• General Service Recruitment has increased from 350 in 2022 to 577 in 2024. Up to the end of May 2025 there have been 150 General Service Recruits inducted into the Defence Forces. The total number of General Service Recruits enlisted in the Defence Forces from 2022 – 2025 is 1388;
• There has been a total of 31 Direct Entry personnel who have joined the Defence Forces between 2022 and the end of May 2025;
• There has been a total of 66 Re-Enlistments in the Defence Forces between 2022 and the end of May 2025;
• The Cadet intake has steadily increased from 45 Cadets in 2022 to 63 in 2023, 82 in 2024 and the target intake for 2025 is 80 Cadets;
• Maximum age for enlistment in the Defence Forces has increased from 29 – 39 years;
• Concerning a Naval service Specific Recruitment Campaign, the campaign is ongoing. A company has been awarded a contract for 2025 - 2026 to provide recruit process outsourcing, including marketing strategies and campaigns for the Naval Service; and
• Regarding maintaining marine specialist recruitment, the contract is still in place and recruitment is open.
The Deputy will appreciate that retention levels are not influenced by a single factor, but rather that there are multiple, interconnected factors, which are responsible for retaining people in an organisation. The Defence Forces, in common with many peer organisations, both nationally and internationally faces a challenging environment at present in the context of recruitment and retention. This includes the effects of a buoyant Irish economy close to full employment.
A number of specific actions in the area of retention have already been delivered, including:
• Significant progress on pay;
• An increase in the mandatory retirement age to 62;
• The extension of private healthcare to all ranks in the Defence Forces;
• Provision of fitness, training and sports facilities across its installations;
• Progress on the 2023-2027 Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) with the highest level of financial resources in the State’s history;
• The provision of excellent training and education opportunities;
• The updating and development of a number of work-life balance and family-friendly initiatives are also being pursued.
In addition, the implementation of the Working Time Directive earlier this year was long identified as an important retention measure for serving members and is a significant step in the transformation of the Defence Forces in line with my commitment to cultural change.
I would like to ensure the Deputy that attracting and retaining talented individuals will continue to be priority for me and I believe that the concerted efforts underway will greatly assist us.
