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

The military authorities have provided me with a table showing the estimated number of personnel who will be required to retire on age grounds from next year up to 2028, if they serve their full contract term. It should be noted that many personnel leave the Defence Forces before reaching mandatory retirement age. The table outlining projected mandatory retirement figures, which should be read bearing in mind this caveat, will be provided to the Deputy.

Similarly, in regard to recruitment, induction numbers fluctuate from year to year. Budget 2024 allocated €1.23 billion for the defence sector, which included a provision for the recruitment and training of a net additional 400 personnel in 2024. As part of strategies to achieve this, a joint induction training centre has been established at Gormanston. The military authorities have advised that when fully operational, this centre will enable induction training to be provided to 900 recruits per annum. Recruitment of cadets will also continue each year, with current recruitment capacity standing at 60 cadets per annum.

While recruitment and retention issues in the Defence Forces are acknowledged, there has been significant progress in improving the pay and conditions of personnel. Current pay rates, including military service allowance, for the ranks of private 3 star-able seaman, in their first three years of service, start at €38,016 in year one, rising to €40,700 in the third year of service. A graduate cadet, on commissioning, starts on €47,245, and a school-leaver cadet starts at €41,962 while in full-time third level education. Private medical care has been rolled out to all ranks in the Defence Forces. I recently announced a doubling of the amount of the patrol duty allowance payable to Naval Service personnel at sea after the first ten days in a calendar year. This measure consolidates, simplifies and improves existing seagoing allowances. The seagoing tax credit has also been retained.

A further range of financial and non-financial recruitment and retention measures are also being advanced. An examination of mandatory retirement ages is ongoing, with interim extensions already agreed for privates, corporals and sergeants to end-2024. There will be a comprehensive review of medical services in the Defence Forces. Work is ongoing on associate membership of the ICTU for the representative associations. The policy position on the working time directive is being finalised. External recruitment expertise is being engaged to inform current recruitment processes.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

I stress that there is no lack of interest in joining the Defence Forces, as evidenced by the total of 8,230 applications received up to 31 October 2023. This includes 1,213 applications for the 60 cadet competition places, which will ensure the current good strength at the officer ranks is maintained into the future.

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