Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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55. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps being taken to increase the numbers of personnel serving in the Air Corps so as to ensure an appropriate level of service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53499/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The military authorities have advised that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), as at 31 August 2025, the latest date for which this figure is available, stood at 7,502 personnel.

Significant progress has been achieved on a number of fronts in addressing the recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Forces, and last year 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 continues to grow significantly with figures provided by the Defence Forces showing a year on year increase of 33% in application numbers to the end of August of this year.

Government has introduced a number of key enabling measures to drive Defence Forces recruitment. These include increases in the maximum ages of recruitment and retirement respectively, the extension of private secondary healthcare to all personnel and the application of the provisions of the Working Time Directive across the Defence Forces subject to certain exemptions. There has been significant progress on pay with all personnel benefiting from a further pay award made on August 1 of this year.

A range of Air Corps recruitment competition streams were successfully launched over the past number of years, including general service recruits, cadetships, re-entry schemes and specific direct entry competitions. The 2025 Air Corps Cadetship class recently began their training and 24 General Service Recruits were inducted by end August 2025.

I recently approved the extension of the Pilot Service Commitment scheme, to include ATC personnel. A contract with an external service provider to provide Flight Information Service Officer (FISO) services at the Aerodrome has been put in place. The contract will assist the Air Traffic Control Service in returning to full operational flight activities on a 24 hour 7 day a week basis.

To facilitate the array of initiatives and recruitment competitions, Budget 2026 provided a record allocation of €1.49 billion for the Defence Sector, an increase of €157 million. In relation to specific recruitment targets, this allocation provides for the recruitment of at least a net additional 400 personnel per annum.

As Minister for Defence, I will continue to address target recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces and the allocation by this government of an unprecedented level of expenditure to the Defence sector coupled with the suite of measures currently in train is illustrative of my intent in this regard.

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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56. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his Department has taken steps to expand the Air Corp pilot training programme to be provided by other EU member states. [53500/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I fully support training cooperation between the Defence Forces and other international armed forces, where it is deemed appropriate by senior military leadership and where resources allow.

Such cooperation enables the Defence Forces to train and develop its personnel and maintain the capabilities necessary to enable them to fulfil the roles laid down by Government. In this regard, I am advised by the military authorities that while training for the award of Pilot wings under the Air Corps Pilot Training programme is not currently conducted within other EU States, Military Pilots do undergo a range of training activities within EU countries, including Sweden, Italy, Germany and Spain, as necessary. International training of this kind is a vital element of building up capabilities and interoperability, and the Defence Forces will continue to avail of these opportunities going forward.

The Air Corps currently has a strong pipeline of trainee pilots, in addition to a cohort of experienced pilots and I am satisfied that the training programmes in place are robust and in line with international best standards.