John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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67. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current number of vacancies within the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60331/25]

John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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68. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his Departments plans to increase its headcount in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60332/25]

John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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69. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the planned recruitment within the Defence Forces for the years 2026-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60333/25]

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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72. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the measures being taken to improve recruitment and retention within the Defence Forces in light of the €145 million increase in defence funding in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60423/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 to 69, inclusive, and 72 together.

As of the 30 September 2025, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) stood at 7,641 personnel.

One of the recommendations from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, Government approved a move, over a six-year period, to a level of Permanent Defence Force capability equivalent to Level of Ambition 2. This will require an additional 1,761 personnel, including a civilian component, beyond the 9,739 establishment figure currently in place.

Working towards the achievement of Level of Ambition 2, Budget 2026 provided a record allocation of €1.49 billion for the Defence Sector, an increase of €145 million on 2025. These funds include a provision for the recruitment of a net 400 additional PDF personnel.

In order to meet government targets, the Defence Forces are making concerted efforts to increase recruitment. Last year saw a stabilisation in numbers with 708 inductions to the PDF and the military authorities have advised that they are targeting up to 800 inductions for 2025. The inclusion of an increased advertising allocation in 2025 has provided further impetus to ongoing Defence Forces recruitment efforts with applications by the end of September 2025 exceeding the total for the whole of 2024 and the highest number received in 10 years.

Significant progress is being achieved on a number of fronts in addressing the recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Forces through the implementation of a number of key enabling measures. 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. 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. There has been significant progress on pay with all personnel benefiting from a further pay award made in August of this year.

Recruitment to the Defence Forces remains ongoing through a diverse range of competitions for General Service and for specialised Direct Entry positions.

While challenges undoubtedly remain, the allocation of record levels of expenditure to the Defence sector, and the policy initiatives and changes to eligibility criteria already implemented, is indicative of Government’s commitment to adequately resourcing the Defence Forces.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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70. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the rationale for the decision to withdraw Defence Forces personnel from the MINURSO UN peacekeeping mission; whether there are any plans for Ireland to participate in that mission in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60369/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Following an operational review of overseas deployments including peacekeeping commitments, a decision was taken in July 2021 to withdraw the two Defence Forces' personnel deployed to the UN’s MINURSO Mission in the Western Sahara, thereby concluding Ireland’s involvement in this mission.

The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces constantly review the deployment of Irish personnel overseas. Any decision with regard to future deployments of Defence Forces personnel, including any possible return to MINURSO, would be considered as part of a number of other considerations, including the resourcing of the mission, the level of existing commitments to other peacekeeping operations, and the existing operational commitments of the Defence Forces.

I can assure the Deputy, however, that Ireland’s long-standing position on the Western Sahara is one of full support for the UN-led process, including for the MINURSO mission and the efforts of the personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to achieve a political solution to this long-standing dispute. It is our hope that these efforts will help to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.