Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 February 2019
123. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a new recruitment campaign for the Permanent Defence Force will commence before the end of Easter 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8027/19]
View answerThe 2019 recruitment campaigns for the Permanent Defence Force are already underway.
The recent Naval Service General Service Recruit competition, which closed on 21 January 2019, attracted 969 applications and these are currently being processed.
It is planned to induct approximately 800 personnel to the Defence Forces in 2019, comprising of General Service Recruits, Apprentices, Cadets and Direct Entry Officers.
The Government remains committed to ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces to return to, and maintain, the establishment level of 9,500 personnel as set out in the White Paper on Defence 2015.
