Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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152.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of applications or expressions of interest to join the Reserve Defence Force received in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and the number of members formally inducted in each period[34416/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The establishment versus the strength of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) as of 31 July 2024:

The number which applied and the numbers inducted in the years 2019 to 31 Jul 2024:

The Government remains committed to bolstering the numbers in the Reserve Defence Force (RDF).

The structure and strength of the RDF is a key focus of the Defence Forces Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) which was established in line with a recommendation from the Commission on the Defence Forces Report (CoDF). The immediate focus of this Office has been on the development of a Regeneration Plan, in addition to focusing on general recruitment into the RDF.

Since the launch of the most recent RDF recruitment campaign last October, which remains open, there are currently 797 live RDF applications proceeding through the system, with over 567 interviews concluded; 534 fitness tests and 369 part 1 medicals completed; 315 follow-on part 2 medicals completed; and, since October 2023 to 31 August 2024, 237 applicants have been attested of which 211 are AR and 26 NSR. This points to the positivegains being made following the establishment of the (ORA).

A target of 200 new recruits per year had been set by the Chief of Staff. By 2028, the aim is to have increased the NSR to an establishment of 400 personnel and develop an Air Corps Reserve with an establishment of 200 personnel. The AR will be considered in the context of ongoing work by the Army Force Design Office.

These aims and intentions are outlined in the RDF Regeneration and Development Plan which was launched on 24 July 2024. This plan, which addresses one of the recommendations in the Report from the Commission on the Defence Forces, contains a number of actions concerning the recruitment, resourcing and bolstering of the RDF.

The ultimate goal for me as Minister for Defence, is the development of a Reserve Force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy on a voluntary basis, with the Permanent Defence Force, both nationally and overseas.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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153.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of retirements and discharges from each branch of the Defence Forces to date in 2024; the numbers therein whereby members paid for an early discharge, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34417/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Within the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), the term 'discharges' encompasses personnel who left for a variety of reasons including on age grounds, at end of contract, voluntary discharges and also includes a number of trainees who exited prior to completion of their initial training. A high percentage of those who leave the PDF do so with some form of pension.

Turnover levels in the PDF are carefully monitored and the Commission on the Defence Forces stated in their report that they were satisfied that, in broad terms, levels of average turnover are not out of line with other military organisations internationally.

The military authorities have advised that, as of 31 July 2024, 398 Defence Forces personnel had discharged/retired in 2024 and the following table provides a breakdown by Branch.

Of these 398 personnel, 70 personnel discharged while in training and 145 personnel ‘discharged by purchase’. The majority of persons discharging from the Defence Forces do so at no cost. Discharge by purchase occurs when a Non Commissioned Officer or Private elects to leave the Defence Forces and pays an appropriate sum to discharge, in accordance with Defence Force Regulation A10. Recruits and 2* Privates can also elect to discharge by purchase and accounted for 63 of the overall 145 personnel who have discharged by purchase in the first 7 months of the year.

Recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Forces have been acknowledged. To address these, a range of financial and non-financial retention initiatives are being implemented. These include an increase in the mandatory retirement age to 62, the doubling of the Naval Service Patrol Duty allowance, the further extension of the Naval Service tax credit, and the extension of the provision of private secondary healthcare to all members of the PDF, in addition to significant progress on pay.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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154.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of dentist and doctor vacancies currently in the Defence Forces Medical Corps; the timeframe for filling each of those vacancies, in tabular form.[34488/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the military authorities that the current number of vacancies for each of the requested positions are as follows: