Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Military Authorities advise that the end of year effective strength of the RDF, from 2020 to 2023, is the follows:

They have also advised of the number of applications received, and the number of inductions into the RDF, in the same period, and is provided below:

*2021 Competition only ran for Army Reserve (1Bde – Tralee).

** increase in previously reported figure as one further induction that occurred in December was added to the military reporting system in January.

In addition to current recruitment and retention measures for the RDF, a long term regeneration plan is being prepared following the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF). This plan is being developed by the Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) which was established last year on foot of recommendations in the Report from the Commission on the Defence Forces.

A competition was launched on the 3 October 2023. As of 19 Jan 2024, 853 valid applications have been submitted. There are currently over 800 live applications proceeding through the system with 34 medicals completed.

Work has been completed on streamlining the two-stage medical process and fitness testing is now completed before medicals.

The induction of personnel has been facilitated through the implementation of the 'Managed Induction Process' whereby each applicant is assigned a Recruitment Liaison Officer (RLO) who maintains contact with them throughout the induction process. The aim of this close liaison is to facilitate an expeditious and efficient recruitment process from application to attestation.

I would like to assure the Deputy that it is my aim, and that of the Chief of Staff, to ensure that the regeneration of the RDF remains a key goal in 2024 and beyond.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As at 31 December 2023, the latest date for which such figures are available the strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 7,550 personnel i.e. 6,136 Army, 689 Air Corps, and 725 Naval Service.

The current agreed establishment of the Defence Forces is 9,589 i.e. 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps, 1094 Naval Service, and 89 additional positions to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

The table below sets out the number of discharges by branch, as at 31 December 2023, the latest date for which such figures are available.

The Defence Forces have projected inductions of 540 in 2024, and have been instructed to increase this number. This will be facilitated by the allocation of €1.23 billion for the Defence Sector in Budget 2024, which includes a provision for the recruitment and training of a net additional 400 personnel in 2024.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As at 31 December 2023, the latest date for which such figures are available, the number of female personnel in the Permanent Defence Force was 559.

The table below sets out the number of women in each branch, and the number of discharges from the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as at 31 December 2023.

In 2023, 37 female inductions represented some 9% of the total inductions of 415 personnel. This was in line with the aims of the Chief of Staff for 2023.

Special consideration is paid to women as a target group for recruitment within the general recruitment framework and the High Level Action Plan agreed by Government on the Commission on the Defence Forces contains a range of recommendations designed to assist in increasing female participation in the Defence Forces. The Government remains committed to increasing female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces in order to increase capability and to better reflect the society from which the Defence Forces are drawn and serve.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Defence Acts, 1954-2015, the Department has civil and military elements. The civil element is headed by the Secretary General and the military element by the Chief of Staff. Both elements provide supports to the Minister in the management of defence.

The civil element of the Department is led by the Management Board which comprises the Secretary General, five Assistant Secretaries and a Director. The Management Board takes a central role in the formulation of strategy, in the development and monitoring of the business planning process and deciding resource allocation. Please see organigram below of the various Divisions and units that operate within my Department.

The only State body currently under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board which is an independent statutory body, established under the Army Pensions Act 1927. The secretary to the Board is provided from my Department’s staff.