Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The military authorities advise that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 31 December 2022 was 7,987. The strength in July 2022 was 8,194; 8,146 in August; 8,103 in September; 8,074 in October and 8,049 in November. We have previously acknowledged, and I do so now, that the current staffing difficulties in the Naval Service are very serious. I received a briefing yesterday from members of military management and met them on their proposed recruitment strategy for 2023. Recruitment was notably lower in 2022 than in previous years and this briefing outlined how the Defence Forces military management proposes to counter this trend.

With regard to the Naval Service, it has been decided that the LÉ Róisínshould be placed into operational reserve with effect from 31 January, as should the LÉ Niamhonce its mid-life refit is completed later this year. This is aimed at stabilising operational delivery while assisting in regeneration by prioritising the training and development of existing Naval Service personnel. The Naval Service has advised that this action will not affect its ability to fulfil its current maritime security and defence commitments, including commitments provided under the current service level agreement with the Sea-Fisheries Protection Agency.

In response to the specific challenges in the Naval Service, a comprehensive Naval Service regeneration plan is being progressed and monitored by a high-level civil and military team. The aim of this plan is to address issues, including human resource matters, facing the Naval Service. This is in addition to ongoing general service and direct entry recruitment, and a tender competition for a specialist recruitment body to target individuals with the skills and expertise that are required by the Naval Service. A number of retention initiatives have been implemented and others are currently under way. These include service commitment schemes in the Air Corps and Naval Service, and the seagoing naval personnel tax credit. Agreement has also been secured to allow for an extension in service limits for privates and corporals and, on an interim arrangement, for sergeants.

There has been significant progress on pay as a result of increases arising from the Public Service Pay Commission report, from recent pay agreements and the early implementation of some of the recommendations of Commission on the Defence Forces.

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