Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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189. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress made to increase Defence Forces personnel towards the target of 11,500 by 2028; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49097/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The military authorities have advised that as of 30 July 2025, the latest date for which such information is available, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,540.

As the Deputy is aware, in July 2022, Government approved a move, over a six-year period, to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2) as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces. Achieving LOA2 requires an increase in Permanent Defence Force establishment figure to 11,500, to include a civilian component.

This framework also provides for an increase in the Defence budget to €1.5 billion by 2028, index linked to inflation, as part of the annual estimates processes. This level of funding increase will allow for the required substantial transformation and investment in recruitment and equipment identified by the Commission

Working towards these targets, Budget 2025 provided a record allocation of €1.35 billion for the Defence Sector, an increase of €100 million. This allocation includes funding for the recruitment of a net additional 400 personnel per annum.

Significant progress has been made on a number of fronts in addressing recruitment and retention challenges, and 2024 saw a stabilisation of the downward trend in numbers. There were 708 personnel inducted in 2024, the highest in over five years while discharges were at their lowest in four years. Interest in a career in the Defence Forces is very strong and grew significantly in 2024 with total applications showing an increase of 33% across all competitions compared to the previous year. This trend has continued into 2025.

Government has introduced a number of key enabling measures to drive Defence Forces recruitment. These include an increase in recruitment age to 39 years for those roles that had a recruitment age below that, and to 50 years for Direct Entry Specialists. The mandatory retirement age has been increased to 62. Private secondary healthcare has been rolled out to all personnel and the provisions of the Working Time Directive have been applied across the Defence Forces subject to certain exemptions. The Patrol Duty allowance payable to Naval Service personnel at sea has been doubled after ten days at sea in a calendar year and the Naval Service tax credit has been extended for a further five years.

While challenges undoubtedly remain, the allocation of record levels of expenditure to the Defence sector, and the policy initiatives already implemented, is indicative of Government’s commitment in this regard.