Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2021
150. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the efforts currently underway to attract recruits into the Defence Forces; the cost of the current advertising campaign; the target areas for the placement of such advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28624/21]
View answerThe military authorities have advised that the allocated recruitment advertising budget for 2021 is €395,000. Advertising arsing from recuitment campaigns is placed across all major social media platforms and radio stations.
As at 30th April 2021, a total of 149 personnel were inducted into the Permanent Defence Force. Further inductions will take place throughout the year as recruitment continues. The Air Corps Apprentice competition, attracted 663 applications and these are currently being processed. The 2021 Cadet competition is underway and General Service recruitment is ongoing. This is in addition to the 9 current Direct Entry competitions and the re-commissioning and re-enlistment schemes.
The Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining the agreed strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel as set out in the White Paper on Defence (2015).
