Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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80. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for an update in relation to the current number of serving Defence Forces personnel and ongoing recruitment campaigns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26621/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As of the 30 April 2024, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,501 personnel.

Whilst recruitment and retention challenges have been acknowledged, a range of measures have been introduced to address these and make the Defence Forces an attractive option as a career choice. To this end, there is provision contained in the €1.23 billion allocated for the Defence Sector in Budget 2024, for the recruitment and training of a net additional 400 personnel in 2024.

In addition to ongoing General Service recruitment, recruitment of cadets and Direct Entry specialists continues in 2024, with new competitions for Air Corps Air Traffic Controller cadetship and Direct Entry Air Corps Aeronautical Engineers launched recently.

There are a number of recruitment and retention initiatives underway to increase capacity. An example includes the recent increase in the maximum retirement age for PDF personnel to 60 years. This retention measure also facilitated an increase in the maximum recruitment age to 39 years for General Service Recruits, Cadets and certain specialists with effect from 29 March 2024.

Financial and non-financial retention initiatives have been introduced including the extension of the provision of private secondary healthcare to all members of the PDF, in addition to significant progress on pay and the doubling of the amount of the Patrol Duty allowance payable to Naval Service personnel at sea, after the first ten days in a calendar year.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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81. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for an update in relation to projects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26622/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that the position is as follows:

Haulbowline Naval Base Accommodation and Facilities Upgrade:

- Refurbishment of Block 4 – under construction

- Refurbishment of Barracks Foreman of Works Building – under construction

- Block 9 Refurbishment at Haulbowline – tender recommendations under consideration

- New Gym at Old Tank Building – procurement of Design Team underway

- Refurbishment of Cadets’ Mess – procurement of Design Team underway

- Refurbishment of Communications Building – procurement of Design Team underway

- New Storage Facility 76mm Gun System - tender documents awaited from Defence Forces

McKee Barracks Upgrade and Refurbishment:

- Refurbishment of Block F at McKee Barracks – Under construction

- New Locker Block (Pontoon Building) at McKee Barracks – Under construction

Casement Aerodrome

- Military Medical Facility - tender documents under review.

DFTC

- ARW HQ - tender documents awaited from the Defence Forces.