Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 February 2025
108. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his targets for attaining an establishment figure of the Defence Forces to that envisaged by Level of Ambition 2 of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2751/25]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, in July 2022, Government approved a move over, a six-year period, to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces. Achieving LOA2 requires a Permanent Defence Force establishment figure of 11,500 by 2028, to include a civilian component. This framework also provides for an increase in the Defence budget to €1.5 billion, in 2022 prices, by 2028, as part of annual estimates processes.
This level of funding increase will allow for the required substantial transformation and investment in recruitment and equipment identified by the Commission. It encompasses both current and capital investment. It is supported by a comprehensive programme of work, currently underway throughout the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces, as outlined and prioritised in the Strategic Framework and the Detailed Implementation Plan for the Commission Report.
Working towards these targets, Budget 2025 provided a record allocation of €1.35 billion for the Defence Sector, an increase of €100 million. This allocation includes funding for the recruitment of a net additional 400 personnel per annum, at a minimum.
Significant progress has been made on a number of fronts in addressing recruitment and retention challenges, and 2024 saw a stabilisation of the downward trend in numbers. The allocation of record levels of expenditure to the Defence sector, and the policy initiatives already implemented, is indicative of Government’s commitment in this regard.
