Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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64. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of students in the most recent intake of cadets into the Defence Forces; the steps his Department is taking to encourage more young people to join; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49123/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The military authorities have advised me that as of 31 July 2025, the latest date for which such information is available, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,540.

The government has introduced a wide range of initiatives aimed at improving recruitment and retention and making the Defence Forces a career of choice. These include an increase 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; 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, in addition to unrivalled access to opportunities for education and training. There has also been significant progress on pay with the most recent increase awarded on 1 August 2025.

As regards Cadets specifically, a class of Cadets totalling 82 personnel was inducted to the Permanent Defence Force in 2024. This consisted of 56 Army Cadets, 13 Air Corp Cadets and 13 Naval Service Cadets. The 2025 Cadetship competition closed for applications in April. The Defence Forces is currently in the process of making offers to successful candidates and it is anticipated that a class of 80 Cadets will be inducted in October.

Interest in a career in the Defence Forces continues to grow strongly. There was a total of 13,348 applications for entry into the Permanent Defence Force in 2024, of which 1,795 were for the Cadets. The total number of applications received as of the 31 August 2025 stood at 12,462 of which 1,819 were applications for the Cadets. The Defence Forces is working to position the Defence Forces as an employer of choice by conducting long-term brand building, as well as direct recruitment activation. Activities centre on driving awareness of careers in the Defence Forces, building a positive perception of the Defence Forces as an organisation, and increasing applications.

The Defence Forces continue to broadcast this message to a wide range of candidates, including young persons, through regular visits to schools, Education and Training Boards and third-level institutions, in addition to frequent attendance at recruitment and career fairs/events. Furthermore, transition year students can avail of placements within the organisation to undertake various programmes, across a number of locations, demonstrating career opportunities.