Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As of the 31 March 2024 the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,510 personnel. This was comprised of 6,087 Army, 701 Air Corps and 722 Naval Service personnel. The agreed overall establishment strength was recently increased by 100 to 9,600 to account for the first cohort of Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF) appointments.

Whilst recruitment and retention challenges have been acknowledged, a range of measures have been introduced by this Government to address these and make the Defence Forces an attractive option as a career choice. To this end, there is provision, contained in the €1.23 billion allocated for the Defence Sector in Budget 2024, for the recruitment and training of a net additional 400 personnel in 2024.

Recruitment continues with ongoing general service and direct entry recruitment in addition to the re-entry schemes. The 2024 Military Aircraft Technician traineeship is open for applications while the 2024 Army and Air Corp cadetship competitions have closed recently with the Naval Service competition due to close shortly.

In addition to the other recruitment measures that I outlined in an earlier reply today, the Defence Forces have engaged marketing and media expertise and the 'Be More' recruitment campaign highlights the opportunity to continuously improve and learn new skills with a career in the Defence Forces. The establishment of the Joint Induction Training Centre in Gormanston will, when fully operational, increase the training capacity for recruits. I also mentioned earlier, the wide range of retention measures, financial and non-financial, that have been introduced.

My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to enable them carry out their roles as assigned by Government. In accordance with the Framework for Major Emergency Management, primary responsibility for responding to emergencies, including security events, rests with the three designated principal response agencies, namely, the relevant Local Authority, An Garda Síochána, and the Health Service Executive. In the event of an emergency, the Defence Forces provide the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the Aid to the Civil Authority role.

At national level, representation on the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, by both the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces, ensures the fullest coordination and cooperation in the event of an emergency and that the command structure within the Defence Forces is compatible with the requirements in this area.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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11. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for an update on the implementation of the strategic framework for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21827/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Following the publication of the Report of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality issues in the Defence Forces in March 2023, I set out my priority to develop one Strategic Framework for the transformation of the Defence Forces, fully understood by everyone, that has the appropriate governance and reporting mechanisms, and is properly resourced.

The purpose of the Strategic Framework is to bring together into one overarching document, from the multiplicity of plans developed, the immediate actions to be taken to support the transformation of the Defence Forces into a fit for purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future.

The Strategic Framework sets out the key actions to be delivered before the end of 2024 from the Commission on the Defence Forces Report (CoDF) and the Report of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality issues in the Defence Forces (IRG). It also details the efforts underway in recruitment and retention, and in enhancing the physical working environment and equipment of our Defence personnel.

When I published the Strategic Framework – Transformation of the Defence Forces in September 2023, I was absolutely clear on the immediate actions to be delivered in 2024 to support the transformation of our Defence Forces into a fit-for-purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future. My priority for this transformation is cultural change above all else. The end goal of this cultural change is to ensure that the Defence Forces is an equal opportunities employer reflective of contemporary Irish society, where all members are treated with dignity, is well-resourced, and provides a rewarding and attractive career path for new and existing personnel.

Core priorities identified for completion by the end of 2024 under the Strategic Framework are:

i. Specific actions to support cultural change within the Defence Forces through a well-designed and expertly implemented culture change programme, led and driven convincingly from the leadership of the Defence Forces.

ii. That the numbers of personnel in the Defence Forces are stabilised, and thereafter increasing the strength towards the level of ambition arising from the Report of the Commission on Defence Forces.

iii. The implementation of an agreed policy for the application of the Working Time Directive within the Defence Forces.

iv. To progress specific projects to enhance the physical working environment and equipment of our personnel including specific capability enhancements across all Services.

v. To set up a new independent, external complaints service for serving members of the Defence Forces and a new complaints process for civilians and civil servants.

vi. To introduce the legislative changes to support the transformation of the Defence Forces.

vii. To set up the Judge led Tribunal of Inquiry to examine the effectiveness of the complaints processes in the Defence Forces into workplace issues relating to discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct.

In the months since the publication of the Strategic Framework, the Government has delivered a number of very significant actions that have had real impact on the Defence Forces personnel including:

» Extension of private healthcare to enlisted ranks in September 2023;

» Doubling of the Patrol Duty Allowance (PDA) paid to Naval Service Personnel; and

» Increases in maximum recruitment ages and mandatory retirement ages for Permanent Defence Force and Reserve Defence Force personnel;

These measures will have a very positive impact on the overall benefits of joining and remaining in the Defence Forces, allied with the implementation of the Public Sector Pay Agreement 2024 – 2026.

In addition, enhancements to the physical working environment and equipment of our personnel has also continued.

This significant investment in our Defence Forces will continue as part of the ambitious programme of work outlined in the Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

Clear and irrefutable evidence of change on the ground is the only thing to rebuild the trust and confidence of serving members.

The actions set out in the Strategic Framework are being actively progressed and monitored. I am pleased with the progress made on each of the core priorities, further details of which are outlined in the first update report of the Strategic Framework which was published yesterday. A Revised Strategic Framework for 2025 and beyond, is due to be published at the end of this year.

I look forward to the completion of each of the transformative actions outlined in the Strategic Framework by the end of 2024 and building upon the momentum and impetus to support the transformation of the Defence Forces.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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12. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of personnel who have joined each branch of the Defence Forces in each of the past two years and in the first quarter of 2024; the number who have retired or left each service branch over the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21846/24]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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13. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of applications to join that the Defence Forces have received since the start of 2023; how many were interviewed; how many were successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22097/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together.

The military authorities have advised that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, as at 31 March stood at 7,510 personnel comprised of 6,087 Army, 701 Air Corps and 722 Naval Service personnel. Tables containing the specific breakdown of inductions, discharges, applications, interviews and numbers offered employment, as requested by the deputies, will be provided.

The military authorities further advise that the reasons for high attrition rates within the recruitment process include a high percentage of applicants who submit their applications but do not engage with the process thereafter, or do not present at the various stages of the induction process. Additionally applicants can be ineligible, be unable to achieve security clearance, or fail at the various stages of the recruitment process.

Turnover levels in the PDF are carefully monitored and the Commission on the Defence Forces stated in their report that they were satisfied that, in broad terms, levels of average turnover are not out of line with other military organisations internationally. The level of turnover in the PDF in 2023 was some 10% which includes those in training. Personnel leave the PDF for a variety of reasons including on age grounds, at the end of contract and voluntary discharges. A high percentage of those who leave the PDF do so with some form of pension.

I have acknowledged there are recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Forces, This government will continue to work to ensure the Defence Forces remains an attractive option as a career choice for both existing and potential members. This commitment was demonstrated by the €1.23 billion allocated for the Defence Sector in Budget 2024, which included a provision for the recruitment and training of a net additional 400 personnel in 2024.

Considerable efforts are being made to address these challenges. A number of financial and non-financial retention initiatives are being implemented including an increase in the mandatory retirement age to 60, with a further increase to 62 anticipated, the doubling of the Naval Service Patrol Duty allowance, tax measures, and the extension of the provision of private secondary healthcare to all members of the PDF, in addition to significant progress on pay

I would stress that there is no lack of interest in joining the Defence Forces as evidenced by a total of 9,479 applications received across all competitions in 2023.

Inductions and Discharges, by Year and Branch, from 2022 to 31 March 2024

Applications, Attended Interview and Employment Offers for the Permanent Defence Force from 2023 to 31 March 2024