Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2025
176. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the numerical strength of the Army, Air Corps and the Naval Service in each year from 2015 to date in 2025; if he will indicate the numbers of personnel who are male and female; if will provide the establishment figure for each year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5634/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe military authorities have provided the requested information as set out in the attached table.
We have previously acknowledged the recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Forces. To address these, a number of measures have been introduced. The maximum age of recruitment has been increased to 39 years for those roles that had a recruitment age below that, and to 50 years for Direct Entry Specialists. The mandatory retirement age has been increased to 62. Private secondary healthcare has been extended to all PDF members. 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 also been significant progress on pay in recent years. Recruits on completion of training now start at €40,297 in Year 1, while school leaver Cadets upon commissioning earn €44,216, whilst in full time education.
Figures provided by the Defence Forces for 2024 suggest a stabilisation in the downward trend in numbers. There were 708 personnel inducted in 2024 while the Defence Forces have indicated they hope to induct a minimum of 800 personnel in 2025. In 2024 there were 674 discharges, 81 fewer than the previous year and the lowest since 2020.
Budget 2025 provided a record allocation of €1.35 billion for the Defence Sector which includes an allocation providing for the recruitment of at least a net additional 400 personnel per annum.
Interest in a career in the Defence Forces continues to rise as evidenced by the total of 13,348 applications received in 2024 across all competitions. This is an increase of approximately 33% on the total number received in 2023.
Whilst there are still undoubtedly challenges, significant progress has been made on a number of fronts and the allocation of record levels of expenditure to the Defence sector is illustrative of my intent in this regard.
