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

The level of turnover in the Defence Forces was approximately 10% in 2023. That includes those in training. The military advice is that is not unusual across the globe.

On the specific point, we brought in a specialist company to examine recruitment processes within the Defence Forces, especially the Naval Service, which is critical. What is happening in the Naval Service is not satisfactory. The company has outlined and identified areas for significant improvement in how the Defence Forces recruit and how we can convert more. That has to do with the interval periods between applications and people being brought in for training. The pay rates have been substantially increased. For a starter, pay is now significantly ahead of other similar grades in the public service. We must look at the retirement ages to improve retention and I hope we will have announcements on that front soon. It is important. Then there is raising the age at which people can join. The age limits are historical and do not conform with modern lifespans or the abilities of people at different ages today and we must grasp that nettle.

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