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

The military authorities have advised that as of 31 December 2023, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,550 personnel. A total of 750 personnel discharged in 2023 and 415 personnel were inducted. A table containing the requested breakdown by branch of these figures will be provided to the Deputy.

Every effort is being made to increase the strength of our Defence Forces. The high turnover and challenge with recruitment are being experienced worldwide. The Government has introduced many changes to make the Defence Forces an attractive option as a career choice and will continue to work with the Defence Forces to enhance recruitment and retention.

The Defence Forces have engaged a marketing and media partner to assist with recruitment advertising to ensure engagement with the recruitment demographic across social media and other media platforms. Specific advertising for specialist recruitment is placed in industry-specific publications and websites. As part of the Naval Service-specific recruitment campaign, phase 3 of a Naval Service recruitment advertisement will launch in the last week of January 2024.

The current marketing strategy for Defence Forces recruitment, Be More with the Irish Defence Forces, which was launched in 2022, aligns the desire of the target demographic to continuously improve and learn new skills while ensuring long-term career advancement by ably demonstrating opportunities and skills a career in the Defence Forces offers.

The Defence Forces continue to broadcast this message through regular visits to schools and frequent attendance at recruitment and career fairs and events. Furthermore, transition year students can avail of placements within the organisation to undertake various programmes across a number of locations, demonstrating career opportunities. We have made significant progress in improving the terms and conditions of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force. Actions taken include significant progress on basic pay, the roll-out of private secondary medical care to all ranks and the recent 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.

At a recruitment briefing to me in December 2023, management in the Defence Forces outlined that the total projected induction figure for 2024 was 540. Given the current situation, I do not believe that figure to be ambitious enough. I have therefore instructed that additional enlisted personnel and cadets be recruited in 2024 beyond this figure and for military management to present a plan on how this will be achieved.

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