Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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632. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the last time that the age limit for entry into each of the sectors of the Defence Forces was reviewed; if it was undertaken with comparison to international practice; and when the next age review regarding entry is due to take place. [63528/22]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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642. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has considered raising the recruitment age of the Naval Service from a maximum of 27 years of age to a higher age as part of the drive to increase recruitment given many other countries have a much older recruitment age limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63910/22]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 632 and 642 together.

The conditions for entry to the Permanent Defence Force, including the maximum age limits of applicants, are subject to ongoing review and modification having regard to the needs of the organisation, the development of best practices and, as required, reviews of national and international comparators.  Currently, such conditions are also being considered in the wider context of recommendations made in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. 

The age limits for personnel wishing to enter the Defence Forces are as set out in Regulations made pursuant to the Defence Act 1954, as amended. The nature of military service requires that the age profile of personnel in the Defence Forces must be appropriately managed to ensure that capability requirements are met and, in that context, the entry age limits are currently under review. 

The last amendment to Regulations, providing for an increase in the upper recruitment age limit, was in respect of persons recruited as Direct Entry Technicians and was dated 30th March 2022.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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633. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will detail both the maximum and the current strength levels of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63564/22]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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634. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will detail both the maximum and the current strength levels of the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63565/22]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 633 and 634 together.

The following table details the current strength and establishment of the Permanent Defence Force, as of the 30 November 2022.

Ongoing challenges in relation to recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces have been acknowledged. My focus is on bringing the strength of the Defence Forces to the numbers required to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.