Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 September 2025
175. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the estimated cost of the planned targeted and tiered recruitment of 800 new Permanent Defence Force members in 2026. [49565/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of the 31 July 2025, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) stood at 7,540 personnel.
As one of the recommendations from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, Government approved a move, over a six-year period, to a level of Permanent Defence Force capability equivalent to Level of Ambition 2. This will require an additional 2,000 personnel, including a civilian component, beyond the 9,500-establishment figure that was in place at the time of the Commission’s report.
The establishment figure for the Permanent Defence Force has increased incrementally since 2022 to 9,739 to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.
Working towards the achievement of Level of Ambition 2, Budget 2025 provided a record allocation of €1.35 billion for the Defence Sector, an increase of €100 million on 2024. The 2025 Vote 36 (Defence) allocation includes an overall pay allocation of €569 million, of which €469 million provides for the pay of an expected year-end PDF strength of 7,600 and the induction of a net additional 400 recruits in 2025 at an estimated cost of €13 million.
In order to meet government targets, the Defence Forces are making concerted efforts to ramp up recruitment beyond this net figure. Last year saw a stabilisation in numbers with 708 inductions to the PDF and the military authorities have advised that they are targeting up to 800 inductions for 2025, the bulk of which are expected to take place from this month onwards. The inclusion of an increased advertising allocation of €3.2 million in 2025 has provided further impetus to ongoing Defence Forces recruitment efforts.
Whereas the funding projections for an establishment of 9,739 are based on the current structures and establishment of the Defence Forces, the costing of the additional numbers to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the CODF report will require a detailed workforce planning exercise.
I expect to be provided with a recruitment plan for 2026 by the Chief of Staff in the coming weeks, the detail of which will inform the 2026 recruitment costs involved.
Estimates discussions, to include consideration of current expenditure funding priorities for 2026, are now well underway, with updated allocations set to be published in line with Budget 2026 timelines.
