Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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15. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the establishment figure of the Defence Forces; the number of personnel required under level of ambition 2 of the Commission on the Defence Forces; the total current number of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force; his targets for net recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22057/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As of the 31 March 2024, the latest date for which such data is available, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,510 personnel.

As one of the recommendations from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, Government approved a move, over a six-year period, to a level of Permanent Defence Force capability equivalent to Level of Ambition 2. That would require an additional 2,000 personnel, including a civilian component, beyond the 9,500 establishment figure that was in place at the time of the Commission’s report. The ultimate distribution of these additional personnel between the different branches of the Defence Forces is under consideration.

The overall current establishment of the Defence Forces was recently increased to 9,600 in order to expedite implementation of the report through promotions and reassignments. These extra positions are not broken down by branch.

Induction numbers fluctuate from year to year. Budget 2024 allocated €1.23 billion for the Defence Sector, which included a provision for the recruitment and training of a net additional 400 personnel in 2024. As part of strategies to achieve this there are a number of recruitment and retention initiatives currently underway aimed at maximising recruitment capacity and stabilising numbers.

Every effort is being made to increase the strength of our Defence Forces. The current recruitment and retention challenges being experienced are being experienced world-wide. This Government has introduced a range of measures, including significant progress on pay, to make the Defence Forces an attractive option as a career choice.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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16. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to meet the capital allocation required to meet level of ambition 2 as outlined by the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22058/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government approved a move to Level of Ambition 2 (LOA2), as recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces in July, 2022. As part of that decision, the Government committed to increasing the funding allocated to Defence to €1.5 billion (at 2022 prices) by 2028, through the annual Estimates process.

Delivery of this objective will allow the required transformation and investment in Defence recruitment, equipment and infrastructure that was identified by the Commission. It is worth noting that the Commission Report included an approximation of the likely annual capital costs of LOA2 rather than an outline of any annual capital investment targets to be achieved during the transition to that level.

Last March, Minister Donohoe published revised multi-annual capital spending allocations across Departments out to 2026. This increased funding will facilitate the progression of key capital projects and programmes under the 2021-30 National Development Plan (NDP). For Defence, this will see the capital allocation rise from its 2024 level of €176 million to €215 million in 2025 and €220 million in 2026, a level of increase which will bring the Defence allocation to its highest ever level.

Certainty on future capital funding is a key strategic enabler for Defence to ensure a pipeline of Defence equipment and infrastructural projects are always progressing. In that context, the certainty now provided by the availability of over €600 million in capital funding out to 2026 is welcomed as it will facilitate the progression of essential projects, greatly enhance the physical working environment and equipment of the Defence Forces and support the transformation of the Defence Forces in line with the Government commitment to move towards Level of Ambition 2.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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At the outset, I wish to assure the Deputy that the safety and security of Ireland’s Defence Forces’ personnel is of paramount concern to this Government. As Tánaiste and Minister of Defence, I remain in ongoing contact with the Chief of Staff and the Department of Defence is kept apprised of all developments in those areas in which Defence Forces’ personnel are deployed.

Furthermore, all reasonable measures are being taken to ensure the safety and security of all Defence Forces' personnel. All Defence Forces’ personnel, including personnel serving in Lebanon are maintaining a high level of vigilance and continue to monitor the developing situation in their respective mission areas, which remains dynamic and unpredictable.

I wish to also assure the Deputy that Defence Forces’ peacekeepers are well trained prior to deployment and prepared to anticipate events such as occasions of sporadic fire in their Area of Operations. This includes complying fully with all UN security precautions, including taking shelter in protected positions as appropriate, as they have had to do on several occasions since the outbreak of hostilities.

With regard to UNIFIL particularly (which as the Deputy is aware is the Mission monitoring the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel), the Government recently approved the additional deployment of an extra platoon of 33 Irish troops to serve as an additional force protection element with the Irish Battalion deployed. These troops will deploy to the UNIFIL mission during July 2024.

Finally, in terms of contingency planning, I can assure the Deputy that this is part and parcel of the planning in operational deployments should the need for evacuation ever arise. It should be underlined however that the Government remains committed to UNIFIL and has no plans to evacuate our personnel currently. We will continue to monitor the situation closely along with our partners in the UN and the wider international community.