Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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103. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the work to increase the number of naval officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13359/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The current strength of the Naval Service, as at 31st January 2022, is 869 personnel, which includes 159 officers or 87% of officer agreed strength.

The Government has acknowledged there are ongoing challenges in the Naval Service and, in that context, a number of initiatives are being implemented to counter current staffing challenges and these will play a role in restoring and retaining capacity. These include: -

- A Naval Service seagoing commitment scheme

- A special tax credit for seagoing Naval Service personnel

- A re-entry scheme for former personnel

- Ongoing recruitment, including direct entry competitions

- The ongoing review of the scope, and terms and conditions, of direct entry competitions to improve intakes

- Significant progress on pay within the Defence Forces arising from the Public Service Pay Commission recommendations and increases from recent pay agreements

In additon, following consideration by a high-level civil military group, a range of recommendations on the regeneration of the Naval Service are also being progressed.

Further, the work of the Commission on the Defence Forces included consideration of recruitment and retention matters. The Commission’s report was published on the 9 February 2022. The next stage in the process will involve careful consideration of the recommendations and inter-departmental and stakeholder consultation. On completion of this process, I intend to bring a proposed response to the report’s recommendations and a high-level action plan to the Government for consideration.