Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
207. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Defence the measures being taken to improve recruitment and retention within the permanent Defence Force, particularly in regional areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40857/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Defence, I am fully committed to supporting the Defence Forces to increase numbers and strengthen the Defence Forces. The Military Authorities have advised the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,741 as at 30 April 2026, the latest date for which this figure is available.
Increases in application numbers and in the overall strength of the PDF over the last three years demonstrate that the key enabling measures which Government has introduced to support and drive Defence Forces recruitment and retention are yielding results. These measures 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 up to 2029. There continues to be significant progress on pay with all personnel benefiting from a pay award in February with a further increase due next week.
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.
The Defence Forces are making concerted efforts to boost recruitment and have put in place a range of initiatives that target potential candidates nationwide. The current marketing strategy for Defence Forces recruitment ‘Be More with the Irish Defence Forces’, demonstrates the opportunities and skills development a career in the Defence Forces can offer to potential candidates. A female advertising campaign was launched in February of this year, with a further RDF Recruitment campaign to launch in the autumn. The Defence Forces also collaborates with schools (including direct engagement with Career Guidance Counsellors), Colleges, Education and Training Boards and community organisations in all regions, in order to drive recruitment. Furthermore, transition year placements are available across several locations.
There are recruitment teams embedded in each of the Brigade and Service Headquarters in Cork, Dublin, The Curragh, Baldonnel and Haulbowline, but each of the units in the Defence Forces also engages in recruitment in its own assigned geographical area, covering all areas of the country. The recruitment teams engage and supports candidates throughout the process and enable them, where resources allow, to undertake elements of the recruitment process, including fitness tests and interviews, as close to their home locations as possible.
While recruitment and retention remains challenging, significant strides continue to be made on a number of fronts and the allocation of record levels of expenditure is illustrative of my commitment to increase recruitment and improve retention in the Defence Forces.
