Surge in applications to work in Defence Forces, says McEntee
Gordon Deegan
A 24 per cent surge to 16,510 in job applications for a career in the Defence Forces in 2025 coincided with the highest number of inductions in 20 years.
That is according to new figures provided by the Minister for Defence Helen McEntee, who confirmed that last year there were 790 inductions into the Defence Forces.
The 790 inducted into the Defence Forces last year is a 12 per cent increase on the 708 inductions made in 2024.
In her written Dáil reply to People before Profit TD Paul Murphy, McEntee stated that the 16,510 applications compares to 13,348 applications to join the Defence Forces in 2024.
The number of applications last year is more than double the 8,043 recorded in 2022, where there were 435 inductions.
McEntee told Murphy that a range of measures have been undertaken to tackle recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Forces over the last number of years.
She said that as a result "we have seen a stabilisation in strength in the Defence Forces in 2024 and a net increase of almost 200 personnel in 2025".
McEntee said that “this demonstrates that the key enabling measures which the Government has introduced to support and drive Defence Forces recruitment are yielding results”.
The net increase of 200 marks a continuing gradual turnaround in the fortunes of the Defence Forces since 2024, after successive years of a significant drain in numbers.
McEntee said: “I want to build on the progress achieved in 2025 and I am pleased that there continues to be very strong interest in a career in the Defence Forces with further growth again last year in the number of applications received.”
She that the challenge now for the Defence Forces is to convert the applications into inductions. She has set a target of 850 inductions for 2026.
The number of inductions to February 24 this year is 158.
McEntee said that as of January 31st 2026, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,767 personnel.
The range of measures put in place to support and drive Defence Force recruitment includes increases in the maximum ages of recruitment and retirement, the extension of private secondary healthcare to all personnel and the application of the provisions of the Working Time Directive across the Defence Forces, subject to certain exemptions.
McEntee also pointed to the Patrol Duty allowance payable to Naval Service personnel at sea being doubled after ten days at sea in a calendar year, while the Naval Service tax credit has been extended up to 2029.
She said: “There continues to be progress on pay with all personnel benefiting from a pay award delivered last month, with a further increase due in June."
