Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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159. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he intends to advance proposals to amend age limits for those wishing to join the Permanent and Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9832/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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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 entry age limits for General Service Recruits, Air Corps Aircraft Apprentices and certain Direct Entry ‘other rank’ specialists (DFSM Instrumentalists) were increased to 29 years in 2023.

Further age increases require legislative change and, in that context, the General Scheme of the Defence Amendment Bill 2023, published on 10 January 2024, includes an amendment to the provisions regarding the engagement of enlisted personnel. This amendment will remove current obstacles, and provide for greater flexibility on increasing the maximum age limits for personnel who wish to enlist in the Permanent Defence Force. Any amendments made to the Permanent Defence Force upper age limits will inform a decision on increasing Reserve Defence Force age limits.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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160. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on his proposals to better facilitate re-enlistment in the Permanent and Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9833/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In April 2020, a scheme was launched to re-enlist former Permanent Defence Force (PDF) enlisted personnel. The focus of the scheme is on those former PDF personnel with particular skillsets identified by the Chief of Staff which are not available within the Defence Forces.

The re-enlistment of former personnel with the relevant skills and experience is one of the many actions being pursued to address skills shortages in the PDF. Under the terms and conditions of the scheme, which were agreed with the Representative Association for enlisted ranks, PDFORRA, the scheme allows for initial re-enlistment for a minimum of six months and up to three years and the duration of the re-enlistment offered depends on the vacancies that exist.

During 2023, 18 personnel were approved to be re-enlisted (Army 12, Air Corps 5, and Naval Service 1) while in 2024 a total of 7 personnel have been approved to be re-enlisted (5 Army, 2 Air Corps).

In total, 134 candidates have been approved by the former Minister and Tánaiste since the re-enlistment scheme began and 107 members have been attested under the terms of the scheme.

An internal review of the Re-Enlistment of Former Personnel to the PDF is currently being finalised and is expected to be completed shortly.

The recently published Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023 General Scheme to amend the Defence Act includes a proposal to amend section 53A(3), which deals with the re-enlistment of former members of the Permanent Defence Force. The aim of the proposal is to allow the period of re-enlisted service to extend for further terms where necessary.

In addition, this Government is committed to restoring the strength of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) and last year saw positive growth in terms of the number of personnel completing a growing number of training days with the result that there has been an increase in the budget for the RDF this year.

One strategy currently being examined to help underpin the restoration of the strength of the RDF is the identification of a legal mechanism to facilitate the re-entry of former members of the RDF at their former rank. Internal discussions are ongoing on this topic and the identification of a pathway will be a positive step in bolstering the strength of the RDF.