Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

193. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of inductions into the Defence Forces in the first six months of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49288/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

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 have been a total of 350 Inductions to the Permanent Defence Force to the end of August of this year. These comprise of 316 General Service Recruits (219 army, 24 Air Corps and 73 Naval Service), 1 Direct Entry School of Music Conductor, 1 Naval Service Direct Entry Electrical Engineering Officer, 1 Re-Commissioned Army Officer, 21 Re-Enlisted Army Personnel, 2 Naval Service Direct Entry Electrical Engineers, 2 Naval Service Direct Entry Operational Branch Officer, 1 Naval Service Direct Entry Hull Artificer, 1 Naval Service Direct Entry Radio/Radar Technicians and 4 Naval Service Direct Entry Engine Room Artificer. The Defence Forces have advised that a significant proportion of inductions targeted for 2025 will take place from September onwards.

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.