Defence Forces

257. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the current eligibility criteria for recommissioning into the Defence Forces for officers who were medically discharged; and whether the existing terms and conditions prevent individuals in this category from being reconsidered for recommissioning today. [21418/26]

265. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Defence the number of WTE dentists, physiotherapists, doctors and nurses posts filled at Defence Forces Medical Corps; and if she will provide same figures as of 30 June 2023, in tabular form. [22143/26]

272. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Defence the number and percentage of applications from females to join the Permanent Defence Forces at the most recent army cadetship recruitment campaign. [22285/26]

153. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Defence the proposals she is implementing in relation to recruitment in the Defence Forces; the number which have been recruited for each of the years 2021 to 2025; the number that have retired in the same period, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18421/26]

155. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Defence to outline Ireland’s Defence Forces (army) capabilities and assets; to compare it with five years ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18447/26]

160. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the implementation of the Regeneration and Development Plan of the Reserve Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18641/26]

161. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel, by rank, that would be needed to fully train a new army cadetship class of 65 personnel. [18681/26]

162. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Defence if the maximum age limit to join the Defence Forces is 39 years of age, can an individual join right up to their 40th birthday; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18867/26]

167. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Defence if the security duty allowance will be paid to Irish reservists for all activities undertaken during the Irish presidency of the EU.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19671/26]

173. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the annual number of applicants to the Reserve Defence Forces in each year from 2018 to date in 2026; the number accepted for training in each year; the number who commenced the joint induction training syllabus; the number who successfully completed that training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20333/26]

174. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the current policy targets set by her Department for the strength of the Reserve Defence Forces under the Reserve Defence Force Regeneration Plan published in July 2024; the projected strength targets for each year to 2028; and the measures being implemented to achieve the stated objective of reaching an effective strength of 80 percent. [2033…

175. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the average time currently required for a new Reserve Defence Forces recruit to complete the joint induction training syllabus and become fully qualified; whether her Department monitors attrition rates during this training process; if so, the attrition rate recorded in each year since the introduction of the syllabus in 2024; and if she will …

176. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the level of annual funding allocated specifically for the development, training and equipment of the Reserve Defence Forces in each year since 2020; whether the Government intends to introduce a dedicated capital funding stream for Reserve Defence Forces capability development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20336/26]

177. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department maintains structured data on the reasons for resignation or discharge from the Reserve Defence Forces, including exit interviews or retention surveys; if not, whether she intends to introduce a formal retention monitoring system to support the objectives of the Reserve Defence Force Regeneration Plan; and if she will mak…

179. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the number of procurement projects currently underway within the Defence Forces; the stage each project has reached within the capability development lifecycle; and the estimated value of each project. [20412/26]

271. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the total number of applications received to the Permanent Defence Forces; the number of candidates inducted into training; the number of candidates formally attested and sworn into service; whether induction figures are being reported as a substitute for enlistment; and the way in which her Department assures effective governance, oversight, …

16. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the total capital and current expenditure allocated to the Reserve Defence Forces in each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025; the proportion this represents of the overall defence budget in each year; whether she considers this allocation adequate given the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if sh…

17. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the current strength of the Reserve Defence Forces broken down by Naval Service Reserve, Army Reserve, and Air Corps Reserve; the number of vacancies in each branch; the average waiting time for a reservist to complete initial training; the number of reservists who have resigned in each of the past five years citing training backlogs or equipme…

18. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether ring-fenced capital funding exists for the Reserve Defence Forces; if not, the reason therefor; whether reservists are currently required to personally purchase any items of equipment or uniform that should be provided by the State; the estimated total value of equipment shortfalls currently experienced by the Reserve Defence Forces; an…

19. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the current status of the Reserve Defence Forces Regeneration and Development Plan; the specific targets within that plan that have been met, partially met, or missed to date; whether the plan contains ring-fenced funding commitments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17551/26]

20. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the ratio of Reserve Defence Forces personnel to Permanent Defence Force personnel as of the most recent available date; how this compares to comparable EU member states; what target ratio the Department considers appropriate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17552/26]

31. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence to provide a full itemised list of all aircraft, naval vessels, armoured vehicles, weapons systems, surveillance equipment, communications systems, and all other capital military equipment procured or contracted for procurement by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces since the publication of the Report of the Commission on the Defen…

32. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence to provide a breakdown of the total capital equipment budget of the Defence Forces in each of the years 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025; the proportion spent on naval vessels, aircraft, land systems, cyber and communications, and other categories respectively; the number of procurement projects currently at each stage of the project lifecycle as ref…

37. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence to provide a full breakdown of the Defence Vote for the most recent available financial year, specifying the total amount spent by the Department of Defence as a civilian administrative body including staff costs, consultancy, accommodation, travel, information technology systems, and all other administrative expenditure; the total amount spent…

38. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the total number of civil servants currently employed in her Defence; the total payroll cost of these civil servants in the most recent financial year; how this compares to the total payroll cost of uniformed Defence Forces personnel at equivalent grades; the current ratio of civil servants to uniformed personnel; how this ratio has changed in …