Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
204. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the number of applicants who succeeded, withdrew or were rejected at each individual stage of recruitment for the Defence forces, for each of the years 2022 to 2025, in tabular form; the way these compare to other EU nations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12528/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra210. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Defence the measures her Department is taking to encourage the recruitment and retention of Defence Force personnel; the Defence Force strength on an annual basis for each of the years 2021 to 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12478/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 210 together.
Increasing recruitment and retention of personnel in the Defence Forces is a key priority for me as Minister for Defence. As a Government, we are committed to putting the resources in place to achieve Level of Ambition 2 and a crucial element of this is personnel expansion. A range of measures have been undertaken to tackle recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Forces over the last number of years. As a result, we have seen a stabilisation in strength in the Defence Forces in 2024 and a modest increase in 2025. I want to ensure that we continue on that trajectory.
As of the 31 December 2025, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) stood at 7,756 personnel; an increase of almost 200 personnel on the total of 7,557 recorded at the end of 2024.
The table below illustrates the progress made in the last 5 years in terms of applications, inductions and the whole-time strength of the PDF.
|
|
PDF WTE strength |
Applications |
Inductions |
|
2021 |
8,456 |
9,561 |
576 |
|
2022 |
7,966 |
8,043 |
435 |
|
2023 |
7,550 |
9,479 |
415 |
|
2024 |
7,557 |
13,348 |
708 |
|
2025 |
7,756 |
16,510 |
790 |
I want to build on the progress achieved in 2025 and have set a target of 850 inductions for 2026.
The Defence Forces have advised that the data requested around the number of applicants who succeeded, withdrew or were rejected at each individual stage of recruitment for the Defence forces is being compiled, however it is only available from 2024 onwards. It will be forwarded to the Deputy in due course. Analysis of recruitment stages in other EU militaries is not available. The Defence Forces have a new recruitment platform 'Resumo' with built in analysis features, which will enable this data to be provided from 2026 onwards.
It is very positive to see that interest in a career in the Defence Forces continues to grow, with a total of 16,510 applications received in 2025. The challenge now for the Defence Forces is to convert those applications into inductions. The Defence Forces are currently formulating a Strategic Workforce Plan to set out current personnel and skill sets and to map out proposals for the achievement of a strength of 11,500, including civilian personnel, as proposed in the Commission on Defence Forces Report.
The key enabling measures undertaken to support and drive recruitment and retention include: increases in the maximum ages of recruitment and retirement; the extension of private secondary healthcare to all personnel; the application of the provisions of the Working Time Directive across the Defence Forces subject to certain exemptions; increases to Patrol Duty allowance payable to Naval Service personnel at sea, and extension of the Naval Service tax credit to 2029.
There continues to be significant progress on pay with all personnel benefiting from a pay award delivered earlier this month with a further increase due in June.
Opportunities for careers in the Defence Forces remain open via a diverse range of ongoing competitions including those for general service and for Direct Entry specialist roles while the 2026 Cadetship competition recently opened for applications.
The Joint Induction Training Centre in Gormanston Barracks has been established and will facilitate the induction of up to 900 recruits per annum, when fully operational. An allowance for Officer Instructors was introduced last summer targeted at increasing training capacity and upskilling these Officers.
Underpinning these and other measures, I ensured that 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.
While recruitment and retention remains challenging, significant strides continue to be made on a number of fronts. The allocation of record levels of expenditure is illustrative of my commitment to increase recruitment into the Permanent Defence Force and retain our valuable members.
