Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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123. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of known unauthorised incursions into Irish territorial waters by military vessels of other States during each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024; if such matters have been raised with the States concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3406/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, for security and operational reasons it would not be appropriate to comment on specific details that are held by the military authorities in relation to same. It is important to note that The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) allows for all vessels, including military vessels, to transit through the territorial waters of coastal states when conducting innocent passage (as defined by art. 19 of UNCLOS).

Furthermore, naval vessels are permitted to conduct exercises outside of territorial waters in a country’s Exclusive Economic Zone so long as this does not unduly interfere with the Coastal State. This is not an infringement of our national territory. Any vessels transiting Irish waters must do so in compliance with international law and may be subject to sighting and observation by the Naval Service and Air Corps without their innocent passage being infringed.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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124. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the numbers of personnel leaving the Army in advance of their contract ending, each year from 2014 to 2024, tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3426/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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126. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the numbers of personnel leaving the Naval Service in advance of their contract ending, each year from 2014 to 2024, tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3428/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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131. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the numbers of personnel leaving the Air Corps in advance of their contract ending, each year from 2014 to 2024, tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3433/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 124, 126 and 131 together.

The military authorities have advised that the numbers of personnel leaving the Permanent Defence Force in advance of their contract ending, each year from 2014 to 2024, is as outlined in the table below. The data encompass those who discharged at their own request, discharged at their own request on compassionate grounds and discharged by purchase in each year. The military authorities have further advised that data on the requested breakdown by Army Air Corps and Naval Service is currently not collected as part of their reporting procedures.

2024 saw a continuation of the downward trend in the total number of discharges advised by the military authorities. There were 674 discharges in total in 2024, compared to 755 in 2023, and 891 in 2022. The military authorities also advise that overall strength stabilised in 2024 at 7,557 compared to 7,550 in 2023.

Numbers of PDF personnel leaving in advance of their contract ending from 2014 to 2024

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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125. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current number of commissioned officers and enlisted personnel, by rank, currently serving in the Army; the current target figure for Army personnel across each rank, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3427/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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127. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current number of commissioned officers and enlisted personnel, by rank, currently serving in the Naval Service; the current target figure for Naval Service personnel across each rank, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3429/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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130. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current number of commissioned officers and enlisted personnel, by rank, currently serving in the Air Corps; the current target figure for Air Corps personnel across each rank, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3432/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 125, 127 and 130 together.

The military authorities advise that as of the 31 December 2024, the latest date for which the requested figures are available for, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,557 personnel. The table at the following link provides the establishment and current strength, by Branch and rank.

A range of recruitment measures, along with financial and non-financial retention incentives, including the recent application of the Working Time Directive across the Defence Forces, and continued progress on pay and allowances, have been implemented to address recruitment challenges. 2024 saw a stabilisation of the downward trend in numbers.

">Defence Forces Table