Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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30. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will consider the introduction of service commitment schemes to retain key specialist functions within the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49302/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department now has two service commitment schemes in place in respect of the Air Corps pilots and Air Traffic Service personnel, the latter having been approved in June last, in response to an issue which had arisen in relation to potential loss of Air Traffic Control personnel.

The existing Service Commitment Scheme for pilots, which has proven to be a successful retention measure, was extended for three years, also in June of this year by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation.

Recruitment and retention of Defence Forces personnel remains a key Government priority. There are challenges with recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces, with particular challenges in relation to specialist personnel. Military management regularly reviews their existing recruitment frameworks to ensure they are fully optimised and responsive to the needs of the Defence Forces. My Department works closely with the Defence Forces in developing and delivering enablers to support both recruitment and retention.

A number of additional policy measures have been implemented over the last three years. A civilian Head of Strategic HR has been appointed in the Defence Forces, with the aim of achieving a modernised HR function. Improvements to the overall benefits package have been introduced, such as:-

• the extension of private secondary health care to enlisted ranks;
• the restructuring of the Patrol Duty Allowance (PDA) paid to the Naval Service to encourage sea-going activities;
• Techncal pay 2 - 6 review, resulting in increased technical pay for certain cohorts;
• Significant improvements in pay across the Defence Forces;
• Removal of the blanket exemption from the Organisation of Working Time Act.
• increase in the mandatory retirement age 62.
• Increase in the maximum recruitment age to 39 and the recruitment process streamlined.
• Further pay increases from the implementation of the Public Service Pay Agreement 2024 - 2026.

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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31. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to provide an update on payments and remuneration for members of the Reserve Defence Forces; and to explain the changes that have taken place in recent years. [49214/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The remuneration of members of the RDF is considered a key enabler of the regeneration and development of the RDF in line with the strategic objective, which is to create a reserve force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy with the Permanent Defence Force both nationally and overseas.

All spending of taxpayers funds must be supported by appropriate legislation/sanction. In the case of pay for members of the RDF, the relevant legislation is DFR R5. Paragraphs 64 and 67 set out the duties for which pay for members of the RDF apply.

The increased interest in the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) was reflected in the number of Reserve Training and Support Days (RTSDs) undertaken in 2024 which totalled 28,762 days, or an excess of 2,762 days over the original allocation of 26,000 days. The original 2024 budget allocation for the RDF was proactively increased in Q4 2024 to meet evolving levels of RDF activity, with a further increase requested and sanctioned in the latter part of the year. A request to increase the budget further this year is currently being progressed.

One of my key priorities is the modernisation of our Defence Forces, and revitalising our Reserve Defence Forces is a vital part of that transformation process. The Regeneration and Development Plan contains concrete actions to drive forward recruitment and retention, resourcing, training and education, integration and deployment.

Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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32. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the planned new training centre for the Army Ranger Wing of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48911/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may know, on April 15th I announced the provision of over €46 million in funding for the construction of a State-of-the-Art new Headquarters and Training Centre for the Army Ranger Wing (ARW). The delivery of this project is in line with the recommendations from the Commission on Defence Forces.

The first phase of the project will involve development of a new HQ building. My Department has recently concluded a procurement competition for this key phase of the project under the Infrastructure Development Plan and I am advised that it will enter into a contract shortly with construction to commence in the coming weeks, subject to formal contract signature.

Further phases of the overall project will see the delivery of accommodation facilities, a gymnasium and office space.