Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is encouraging to note that the intake is progressing a bit more favourably this year. I acknowledge that additional funding which the Tánaiste mentioned in the previous budget where I think that €67 million specifically was allocated to address retention issues and that a further €1.5 billion will be allocated over the next five years. With regard to the optimum figure of 11,500 Defence Forces members as a standing service of overall numbers, I believe the Tánaiste said here previously that to achieve that would be very challenging.

On the projections the Minister is receiving from his officials, how quickly will the Department meet the target of 11,500 acting servicemen and women? He mentioned in his initial response that the Department is consulting external recruitment expertise. Will he elaborate on what that involves? Is it liaising with other defence ministries abroad? What is meant by external expertise?

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