Sorca Clarke
Ceist:123. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the progress made on recruitment and retention; and whether training capacity is to be expanded. [72657/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 17 December 2025
Ceisteanna (123)
Freagraí scríofa
As of the 31 October 2025, the latest date such figures are available for, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) stood at 7,760 personnel consisting of 6,237 Army, 739 Air Corps and 784 Naval Service personnel respectively.
On foot 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 2026 provided a record allocation of €1.49 billion for the Defence Sector, an increase of €145 million on 2025. These funds include provision for the recruitment of a net 400 additional PDF members per annum.
In order to meet government targets, the Defence Forces are making concerted efforts to increase recruitment. This includes an expansion of training capacity and to this end, a Joint Induction Training Centre has been established in Gormanston Barracks which provides initial training to new recruits.
Last year saw a stabilisation in numbers with 708 inductions to the Permanent Defence Force and the military authorities have advised that they are targeting over 750 inductions for 2025. In 2026, the Defence Forces inform me that they hope that the training capacity will be expanded to accommodate an annual recruitment target of circa 850 people. There continues to be very strong interest in a career in the Defence Forces with further growth again this year in the number of applications received. A total of 14,879 applications have been received to the end of October this year which represents an 11% increase on the 13,348 applications received for all of 2024.
Government has introduced a range of key enabling measures to support and drive Defence Forces recruitment and retention. These include increases in the maximum ages of recruitment and retirement respectively, the extension of private secondary healthcare to all personnel and the application of the provisions of the Working Time Directive across the Defence Forces subject to certain exemptions. The Patrol Duty allowance payable to Naval Service personnel at sea has been doubled after ten days at sea in a calendar year while the Naval Service tax credit has been extended for a further five years.
There has also been significant progress on pay with a further pay award due in February of next year.
Though challenges undoubtedly remain, the allocation of record levels of expenditure, coupled with the recruitment and retention initiatives currently in train, is indicative of the government's commitment to Defence.