Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 30 together.

I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Naval Service, as of 30 September 2025, the latest date such figures are available, is 800 personnel. This is up from 719 personnel at the end of 2024. Let me be honest and say that the establishment strength is 1,094. We are below the establishment strength and we need to get to that number.

The Naval Service currently has a fleet of eight vessels. Four of the vessels are regularly deployed on maritime defence and security operations. These four vessels consist of three P60 class vessels as well as the LÉ Aoibhinn, with all four vessels conducting patrols on a rotation basis. Any decision to deploy additional vessels on maritime defence and security operations is made by the military authorities.

Challenges in the recruitment and retention of personnel in the Naval Service are well-documented and a wide range of recruitment and retention initiatives have been introduced to address these. These include: an increase in the maximum recruitment age to 39 for those roles that had a recruitment age below that, and to 50 for direct-entry officer specialists; an increase in the mandatory retirement age to 62; a doubling of the Naval Service patrol duty allowance after ten days; the extension of the Naval Service tax credit for a further five years; the application of the working time directive across the Defence Forces in January of this year, subject to certain exemptions; and the extension of the provision of private secondary healthcare to all members of the Permanent Defence Forces. There has also been significant progress on pay with the most recent increase paid in August of this year.

Recruitment is presently ongoing through a wide range of pathways, including general service recruitment, re-entry schemes and eight Naval Service-specific direct entry competitions.

Applications for the Naval Service have been very strong this year - I met the commodore yesterday - with the total number of applications received as of 30 September being 2,357, which is 400 more than was received in all of last year when the total was 1,917. Recruitment to date for 2025 has been robust, with 150 inductions to the Naval Service as of 30 September. This is 80 more than the same period last year and 53 more than the total achieved for 2024.

In addition, significant growth in specialist recruitment has been achieved. Since taking up this role, I have learned very quickly that specialist recruitment for skills needed to get a ship to sea is very often the pinch point. As of 30 September, there have been 16 direct entry inductions into specialist roles in the Naval Service, which is the highest number in five years. Some challenges undoubtedly remain but significant progress is being made on a number of fronts. I thank those behind this work in the Naval Service. It is my intention to visit Haulbowline this month. Perhaps this is something we could arrange for the defence committee to do in the new year as well. It would give members the opportunity to engage directly with the Naval Service at the base in Haulbowline. I have also directed the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence to publish a joint plan on Naval Service regeneration and growth. I expect to also receive that this month. Once I bring that to Government I will be very happy to brief colleagues and engage with them on it.

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