David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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32. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of enlisted members, by rank, who left the Naval Service in 2021 and 2022, respectively, in tabular form; the reasons for leaving; the policies in place to encourage the retention of personnel in the Naval Service; the effectiveness of these policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4780/23]

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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37. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his Department’s position on the challenges of retaining qualified maritime engineers and service personnel in the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5103/23]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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38. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the measures he will take to boost retention rates in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4786/23]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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53. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of enlisted members, by rank, who left the Air Corps in 2021 and 2022, respectively, in tabular form; the reasons for leaving; the policies in place to encourage the retention of personnel in the Air Corps; the effectiveness of these policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4781/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 37, 38 and 53 together.

The attached tables contain the requested details of enlisted personnel who discharged from the Air Corp and the Naval Services, in 2021 and 2022.

The Government has previously acknowledged the current staffing difficulties in the Naval Service, and the Defence Forces in general.  Challenges have existed in recruiting and retaining certain specialists which can prove difficult to retain as there are competing demands for such specialists in other sectors. In response to the specific challenges in the Naval Service, a comprehensive Naval Service Regeneration Plan is being progressed and monitored by a high-level civil/military team. The aim of this plan is to address issues, including Human Resource matters, facing the Naval Service. A number of the staffing measures in the plan have already been implemented.

A number of other retention initiatives are also currently underway. These include service commitment schemes in the Air Corps and Naval Service, and the sea-going naval personnel tax credit. Agreement has also been secured to allow for an extension in service limits for Privates and Corporals and on an interim arrangement, for sergeants.

Pay has improved as a result of increases arising from the Public Service Pay Commission report, from recent pay agreements, and the early implementation of some of the recommendations of Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF). The implementation of two of these recommendations, namely personnel of Private 3 Star/Able Seaman rank being paid the full rate of Military Service Allowance (MSA) applicable to the rank; and the removal of the requirement for that cohort to ‘mark time’ for the first three years at that rank, have had a substantial impact on starting pay rates in the Defence Forces, and compare very well to starting pay rates across the public service.

Arising from the Commission on the Defence Force report, Government has approved a move, over a six-year period, to realise a Defence Forces strength of 11,500 by 2028, incorporating an appropriate civilian component. The Defence Forces are developing strategies to achieve this and to address the current shortfall in numbers.

Naval Service Enlisted Discharges 2021, by Rank and Discharge Reason.

Naval Service Enlisted Discharges 2022, by Rank and Discharge Reason

Air Corp Enlisted Discharges 2021, by Rank and Discharge Reason

Air Corp Enlisted Discharges 2022, by Rank and Discharge Reason