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

The Government has previously acknowledged, as do I, the current staffing difficulties in the Naval Service, and the Defence Forces in general. In response to the specific challenges in the Naval Service, a comprehensive regeneration plan is being progressed and monitored by a high-level civil and military team. The aim of this plan is to address all of the issues, including human resource matters. The recent decision to place the LÉ Róisínand LÉ Niamhinto operational reserve will assist in regeneration by prioritising the training and development of existing Naval Service personnel, while also stabilising operational delivery. 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 Authority, SFPA.

To counter recent recruitment trends, military management is progressing its proposed recruitment strategy for 2023 and beyond. In addition to ongoing general service and direct entry recruitment, military management is introducing a planned specific recruitment campaign for the Naval Service, and a tender competition for a specialist recruitment body to target individuals with the skills and expertise required by the Naval Service. As the Deputy will be aware, there are particular challenges in recruiting and retaining certain specialists as there are competing demands for such professionals in other sectors of our strong economy.

A number of retention initiatives have been implemented and others are under way. These include the service commitment scheme 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 an interim arrangement for sergeants and their equivalent Naval Service ranks. There has also been significant progress on pay, with starting pay rates in the Defence Forces comparing well with other areas of the public service. My immediate focus is on stabilising the staffing situation in the Naval Service and thereafter on bringing the strength of the Naval Service and Defence Forces to the numbers required to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

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