Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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50. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the level of specialist technician recruitment to the Naval Service over the past three years; the positions filled in that period; if he satisfied that there is currently an adequate number of technicians to ensure the proper functioning of the naval fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49092/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Naval Service, as at 31 July 2025, the latest date such figures are available, stood at 745 personnel or 68% of an agreed establishment strength of 1,094.

The ongoing staffing challenges in the Naval Service are well- documented and to address these a wide range of recruitment and retention initiatives have been introduced. These include an increase in the maximum recruitment age to 39 for those roles that had a recruitment age below that, and to 50 for Direct Entry Officer specialists; an increase in the mandatory retirement age to 62; a doubling of the Naval Service Patrol Duty allowance after 10 days; the extension of the Naval Service Tax Credit for a further 5 years; the application of the Working Time Directive across the Defence Forces in January of this year, subject to certain exemptions; and the extension of the provision of private secondary healthcare to all members of the Permanent Defence Force. There has also been significant progress on pay with the most recent increase paid on 1 August 2025.

Recruitment is presently ongoing via a wide range of pathways including general service recruitment, re-entry schemes and eight Naval Service specific direct entry competitions. Applications for the Naval Service have been very strong in 2025 with the total number of applications received as of the 31 August exceeding the total number received for all of 2024. A total of 2141 applications have been received in 2025 up to end August, while 1909 applications were received in 2024. Recruitment to date for 2025 has also been strong with 84 inductions to the Naval Service as of 31 August compared to 97 for all of 2024.

The Defence Forces are also presently collaborating with recruitment specialists, CPL, as part of the Naval Service Recruitment Process Outsourcing to develop and support the recruitment function in the Naval Service and to develop a content and marketing plan. Signs in this regard for the year to date are positive with a significant growth in specialist recruitment noted. As of the 31 August there have been 11 Direct Entry inductions into specialist roles in the Naval Service- the highest in five years. These comprise of 2 Marine Engineering Officers, 2 Operations Officers, 4 Engine Room Artificers, 1 Electrical Artificer, 1 Radio/Radar Technician and 1 Hull Artificer.

Notwithstanding the challenges being experienced, the Naval Service continues to conduct maritime surveillance and fisheries patrols in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone, and the Naval Operations Command Centre located at Naval Base Haulbowline continue to remotely monitor vessels in the Irish EEZ on a 24/7 basis.

The Naval Service currently has a fleet of eight vessels. Four of the vessels are regularly deployed on Maritime Defence and Security Operations. These four vessels consist of three P60 class vessels as well as the L.É. Aoibhinn with all four vessels conducting patrols on a rotation basis.

Whilst some challenges undoubtedly remain, significant progress has been made on a number of fronts and the allocation of record levels of expenditure to the Defence sector coupled with the ongoing initiatives I have outlined here, is illustrative of my intent in this regard.