Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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7. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the action he is taking in relation to recognition for officers in the Defence Forces who provide specialist instruction and training. [42024/24]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am taking this question on behalf of Deputy Devlin. What action is the Tánaiste taking in relation to recognition for officers in the Defence Forces who provide specialist instruction and training?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Recruitment and retention of Defence Forces personnel is a significant challenge, which I have acknowledged on a number of occasions. The Government will continue to work to ensure the Defence Forces remain an attractive option as a career choice for both existing and potential members. Considerable progress has been made to address potential barriers to recruitment and retention. A number of financial and non-financial retention initiatives are being implemented, including an increase in the mandatory retirement age to 62, an increase in the maximum recruitment age to 39, the doubling of the Naval Service patrol duty allowance after ten days at sea in a calendar year, extension of the Naval Service tax credit for a further five years, and the extension of the provision of private secondary healthcare to all members of the Permanent Defence Force. These measures have been taken in addition to significant progress on pay.

The provision of professional training and instruction in the Defence Forces is also essential in the context of recruitment and retention. Additional measures have being taken to streamline the recruitment process and further work is being progressed to provide the capacity within the organisation to accept greater numbers at induction. Initial indications, are positive, particularly in the context of the number of expressions of interest received to join the Defence Forces.

There is a critical role to be undertaken by Defence Forces instructors in converting applicants to cadets and recruits and in providing the necessary ongoing professional training of Defence Forces personnel. These instructors are instrumental in delivering a future-focused modern Defence Forces organisation. In recognition of the role of officer instructors, I am pleased to say that I have secured agreement, in principle, with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to incentivise qualified officers who upskill to meet modern training standards. Professionalised instructors will play a critical role in ensuring training is carried out in observance of the organisational culture aspired to. Instructors must possess advanced education, specialist expertise and substantial experience. The introduction of an appropriate payment will recognise both the important role undertaken by instructing officers and also acknowledge and reward this higher level of professionalisation that is now expected.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Many of the things the Tánaiste has mentioned are worth reiterating regarding the progress that is being made. He mentioned the extension of healthcare. That was a much welcomed provision. The Tánaiste has stated in the past that we need to adapt to new realities. He has described the situation globally as extremely challenging. As he has often stated in the House, we are competing in an environment of full employment. Trying to maintain or attract recruits in that environment is always going to be challenging. How many people have expressed an interest in joining the Defence Forces in the last 12 months? Will the Tánaiste clarify intake numbers versus the number who have actually expressed an interest? Where are we with that?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We addressed that in the previous question. Approximately 10,000 people indicated an interest. Many of them did not follow through but still. This is an ongoing issue for me when I discuss these issues with the Defence Forces and military leadership. I gave figures in answer to the previous question. I believe 494 personnel have been inducted so far this year and approximately 250 more will be inducted by the end of the year. That is why the issue of the instructor incentivisation is important. I want to check the figures but I think those are the figures I gave earlier in respect of that.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will ask a final supplementary question on the difficulties we have had in respect of the Women of Honour and their campaign in the last while. A mentoring programme was to be established for women by June 2024. Will the Tánaiste clarify what progress has been made on that?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Just to return to the figures, as of 30 September, 494 personnel had been inducted in 2024 and the latest advice is that it is planned to have a further 250 inducted this year. That is nearly 750 personnel, which would be the highest number of inductions for some time. That indicates we are beginning to turn the corner in respect of the issue of recruitment and retention and the gap between net loss on an ongoing basis. We might arrest that this year which would be a significant turning point.

On the second issue, we have made significant progress in the implementation of many of the recommendations of the independent review group, particularly in respect of empowerment of women within our Defence Forces. I will come back to the Deputy with a detailed list setting out progress we have made on that front.