Alan Kelly
Question:351. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of Naval Service personnel that were recruited in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [15480/23]
View answerTuesday, 28 March 2023
Questions (351)
Written answers
The military authorities advise that the strength of the Naval Service as at 28 February 2023 stood at 767 out of the agreed strength of 1,094. The following table details the number of Naval Service personnel that have been inducted in 2022 and in 2023, as of that date:
|
2022 |
2023 |
|
|
Personnel Inducted |
28 |
*0 |
*The military authorities have advised that the first 2023 induction of Naval Service general service recruits is due to take place shortly.
The Government has previously acknowledged the current staffing difficulties in the Naval Service, and the Defence Forces in general and to counter this there are a number of recruitment and retention initiatives underway. In addition to ongoing General Service and Direct Entry recruitment, military management are introducing a planned specific recruitment campaign for the Naval Service, and a tender competition for a specialist recruitment body to target individuals with the skills and expertise required by the Naval Service.
My immediate focus is now on stabilising the staffing situation in the Naval Service, and the Defence Forces in general, and thereafter in bringing their strength to the numbers required to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.