Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
135. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Defence the strength of the Naval Service personnel at year end in 2023 and 2024, and the current position; and her plans to step up recruitment in the coming period, specifically referring to recruitment targets. [71893/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Naval Service, as at 31 October 2025, the latest date such figures are available, stood at 784 personnel. This represents a nine percent increase on the total of 719 personnel recorded at the end of 2024 and an eight percent increase on the total of 725 personnel recorded at the end of 2023.
The recruitment and retention challenges in the Naval Service are well- documented and to address these a wide range of recruitment and retention initiatives have been introduced. These include an increase in the maximum recruitment age to 39 for those roles that had a recruitment age below that, and to 50 for Direct Entry Officer specialists; an increase in the mandatory retirement age to 62; a doubling of the Naval Service Patrol Duty allowance after 10 days; the extension of the Naval Service Tax Credit for a further 5 years; the application of the Working Time Directive across the Defence Forces in January of this year, subject to certain exemptions; and the extension of the provision of private secondary healthcare to all members of the Permanent Defence Force. There has also been significant progress on pay with the most recent increase awarded in August of this year.
Recruitment is presently ongoing via a wide range of pathways including general service recruitment, re-entry schemes and eight Naval Service specific direct entry competitions. Interest in a career in the Naval Service Applications has grown significantly with the total number of applications received in 2025 as of the 31 October (2591) exceeding by more than 600 the total received for all of 2024 (1917) and by 948 of the total received in 2023 (1643).
Recruitment to date for 2025 has been correspondingly robust with 156 inductions to the Naval Service achieved as of 31 October.
In addition, significant growth in specialist recruitment has been achieved. As of the 31 October there have been 19 Direct Entry inductions into vital specialist roles in the Naval Service- the highest since the commencement of Direct entry competitions.
Whilst some challenges undoubtedly remain, significant progress has been made with regard to the Naval Service and the allocation of record levels of expenditure to the Defence sector coupled with the ongoing initiatives I have outlined here, is illustrative of my intent in this regard.
