Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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52. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of vacancies by rank within Defence Forces School of Music; when each of those vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [67635/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The military authorities have provided the requested details, in the table below, in relation to the number of vacancies currently in the Defence Forces School of Music. Figures are as at 27 November 2025:

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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53. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a new cadetship recruitment campaign for the army will be launched early in the new year. [67636/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The 2025 Army Cadetship competition was launched in March and closed for applications on the 8th of April. The Defence Forces have advised of their intention to launch the 2026 Cadetship recruitment campaign for the Army in quarter one of 2026.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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54. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence her views on whether it was necessary for Defence Forces personnel to draw weapons against protesters targeting planes in Shannon owned by a military which provides logistical support to a country that her Government considers guilty of genocide (details supplied). [67999/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on operational and security matters in this particular instance.

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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55. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the existing direct entry, lateral entry and re-entry mechanisms for recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force; the number of personnel recruited under these mechanisms in 2025; if she intends creating additional entry pathways; the timeline for delivery of each pathway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68025/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Permanent Defence Force recruit through a combination of general service recruitment, officer cadets, and direct entry specialists. Challenges exist in recruiting and retaining certain specialists due to competing demands for such specialists in other sectors in the current buoyant economy.

In addition to traditional recruitment, several measures have been introduced aimed at restoring and retaining capacity and boosting specialist numbers. These include an ongoing scheme which permits former personnel with specialist skills to re-enter the Permanent Defence Force. In 2025, as of the 31 October, this has resulted in 27 re-enlistments (25 Army and 2 Naval Service) and 2 Army Officers being recommissioned.

Direct Entry is utilised in the recruitment of specialists. In 2025 as of the 31 October, this has resulted in 34 inductions consisting of 1 Defence Force School of Music Conductor, 1 Defence Force Medical Officer, 4 Naval Service Electrical Engineering Officers, 1 Naval Service Marine Engineering Officers, 2 Naval Service Operations Branch Officers, 2 Direct Entry Nurses, 3 Direct Entry Grooms for Equitation School, 8 Air Corps Aircraft Maintenance Technicians, 2 Naval Service Direct Entry Electrical Artificer, 1 Naval Service Direct Entry Hull Artificer, 3 Naval Service Direct Entry Radio/Radar Technicians and 6 Naval Service Direct Entry Engine Room Artificers.

All elements of the recruitment process, including the potential for new recruitment pathways and competitions, remain under ongoing review by the Defence Forces.

It has not been possible to provide the requested information as pertaining to the Reserve Defence Force within the time frame available. I will respond to the Deputy when the information is to hand.