Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Ceist:20. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the action he is taking to improve retention levels in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48977/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 18 September 2025
Ceisteanna (20, 43)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:43. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the actions taken to improve retention in the Defence Forces. [49210/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 43 together.
Since my appointment as Minister for Defence, in addition to a programme of cultural transformation, which is underway, my focus has been on stabilising the numbers of Defence Force personnel and facilitating the capacity for further increases.
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 and recognising the Defence Forces as an employer of choice.
In June of this year, I extended the existing service commitment scheme for Air Corps pilots, to air traffic control (ATC) personnel, which launched on 27 June 2025 as an enabler to address retention challenges in the Air Corps.
I would like to assure the Deputy that attracting and retaining talented individuals and encouraging them to stay and enjoy a fruitful career in the Defence Forces continues to be a priority.