305. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the recruitment programme for the Reserve Defence Force for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73614/25]
Topics / Defence Forces
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsDefence Forces
1,115 questions from 105 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 22 October 2026.
1,115
questions
1,048 written, 67 oral
105
TDs have asked
11
parties and groups
Independents counted together
6
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 9 |
| February 2025 | 58 |
| March 2025 | 27 |
| April 2025 | 23 |
| May 2025 | 47 |
| June 2025 | 83 |
| July 2025 | 55 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 91 |
| October 2025 | 36 |
| November 2025 | 77 |
| December 2025 | 85 |
| January 2026 | 33 |
| February 2026 | 120 |
| March 2026 | 34 |
| April 2026 | 30 |
| May 2026 | 108 |
| June 2026 | 74 |
| July 2026 | 87 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 24 |
| October 2026 | 14 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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80
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76
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41
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41
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39
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34
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30
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24
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
306. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the recruitment programme for the Permanent Defence Force for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73615/25]
307. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the progress to date in upgrading accommodation for members of the Permanent Defence Force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73619/25]
308. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the progress to date in implementing the recommendations of the report of the commission on the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73620/25]
309. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence if further consideration will be given to the re-opening of Dún Uí Néill Barracks, Cavan, as a forward operating base as that region has a long land border with a neighbouring jurisdiction, taking into account that in the past the presence locally of army personnel played a very important role in the security of the State, and the much changed and dangerous sec…
310. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence if, in view of the lack of an army barracks in the central border area, if further consideration will be given to the re-opening of Dún Uí Néill, Cavan, as an army barracks; taking into account the recommendation of the commission on the Defence Forces that the structure of the army be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73635/25]
118. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence to outline the current counter-drone capability within the Defence Forces; and whether additional support from partner states is expected to be required for major events in 2026. [72599/25]
122. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence to outline the role played by the Defence Forces and Civil Defence during Storm Bram. [72656/25]
123. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the progress made on recruitment and retention; and whether training capacity is to be expanded. [72657/25]
125. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the current staffing strength for all units based in Custume Barracks; and the impact of staffing shortfalls on training and operations. [72659/25]
127. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the measures her Department is taking to ensure the budget for the Reserve Defence Force will be sufficient for the coming year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72679/25]
128. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Defence if she will address the concerns of Reserve Defence Force members regarding recent changes to reservist payments, including the removal of payment for routine activities and the reduced effective daily rate after taxation; the impact these changes are having on participation, recruitment and retention within the Reserve; the steps that will be taken to ensur…
91. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel required under level of ambition 2; the current establishment figure; and the current number within each service. [71896/25]
92. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Defence the actions she has taken to improve pay and conditions in the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71668/25]
94. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Defence the way in which the Defence Forces is developing its unmanned aerial systems capability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71843/25]
95. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence her views on the matter of entry-level cadet pay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72046/25]
96. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Defence to confirm that during Ireland's EU Presidency, Casement Aerodrome will be the primary location for arrivals of other EU member states' leaders and members of government into Ireland, and will have C-UAS systems installed; if she will confirm that, should weather or other operational issues preclude landing in Casement Aerodrome, contingency plans are in p…
98. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Defence when the rank of lance corporal will be introduced in the Army; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71653/25]
99. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence if she has had any engagement with an organisation (details supplied) since he took office. [71603/25]
101. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Defence if the Government is to take delivery of the Dassault Falcon 6X aircraft in December 2025; the final agreed cost; and the date by which the aircraft will enter operational service. [72029/25]
109. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which the Defence Forces engage with other agencies and supporting resources to respond to severe weather events such as storms, flooding, and other emergencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71888/25]
111. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Defence if she will outline any recent progress made in all the investigations into the death of a Defence Forces member who was killed on duty in the Lebanon, details supplied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71889/25]
114. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Defence the number of resignations from the Defence Forces in 2025. [71669/25]
116. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces have powers that would permit them to take down unidentified drones operating in Irish air space and/or in international waters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71587/25]
118. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Defence the number of new students enrolled in the Army college in 2025; and the course they enrolled in; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72044/25]