Defence Force recruitment reaches five year high – Callaghan

The highest number of new recruits in five years were inducted to the Defence Forces last year, a Fine Gael TD has reported.

Deputy Catherine Callaghan outlined that 790 new personnel joined the Defence Forces in 2025, an increase of over 10% on the previous year’s intake.

Deputy Callaghan said: “This is a really encouraging figure. This is the highest number of new inductions in five years and shows that there is a growing interest in pursuing a career in the Defence Forces, which must be built upon.

“The Commission on Defence Forces’ recommended target of 11,500 personnel by 2028 will be challenging, that is not in doubt. However, 16,510 applications were received in 2025. That demonstrates that the key enabling measures which the Government has introduced to support and drive Defence Forces recruitment are yielding results.”

Some initiatives that have been taken to tackle ongoing recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Forces include:

• Progress on pay, with the most recent pay increase awarded in August of last year under the public sector pay agreement

• The extension of private medical care to all ranks in the Defence Forces.

• A doubling of the Patrol Duty allowance, effective from 1 January 2024.

• Extension of the Naval Service tax credit for a further five years.

• Increase in the maximum age of retirement to 62 and the age of recruitment for General Service/Cadets to 39, and to 50 for Direct Entry specialists

“Positive moves are underway to attract high calibre personnel to the Defence Forces and we need to be assured that once inducted, these personnel are retained. Recent pay increases are welcome and I would like the focus on remuneration to remain, particularly in relation to Cadet recruitment. As members of the Defence Forces don’t have the option to work up until the age of 66, I would also like to see the introduction of an occupational Supplementary Pension from the age of 62 as an acknowledgement of a career given to public service,” Deputy Callaghan continued.

“An increase of €600 million in our defence budget underscores how important continued investment will be for Ireland to maintain a position of economic and defence strength.

“Perhaps most crucial, however, is that we acknowledge why our Defence Forces must continue to grow. The world is becoming an ever more volatile and violent place and we must protect ourselves. The rise in new personnel further signals our citizens’ willingness to play their part in safe-guarding Ireland and its citizens’ future and this must continue to gain momentum.”