Defence Forces Need 700 Recruits Per Year To Maintain Strength

Monday, 17 January 2022 15:26

By Caoimhe Harney

Strength of the force is in decline.

The Defence Forces Needs 700 new recruits per year to reach full strength, according to the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO).

Currently recruiting 700 recruits a year is unattainable because it does not have enough instructors.

A failure by the Commission on Defence to recommend major solutions to the chronic retention issues in the country's military will only lead to further departures, RACO have said

Commission members are holding final deliberations on their report before shortly handing it over to the Government.

It is expected to be published at the end of this month or in February.

Even if the report does recommend new retention measures, it will be up to the government to ensure they are introduced.

Raco says that a number of recommendations made in previous reports on the Defence Forces have never been implemented.

RACO, which represents commissioned officers, provided data to the latest commission showing that, at the current turnover rate of 7.5%, if the DF were to induct 700 personnel every year, the strength will continue to decline and the organisation will not meet its assigned minimum strength until after 2050.

Commdt. Conor King, General Secretary of RACO, spoke with Ciara Noble on Monday's Kildare Focus:

More from Local News

Garda Resources Deployed Following Prank Call In Athy

Kfm received a tip off saying that Garda checkpoints were carried out, whilst car boots were searched and a low-flying helicopter was seen circling the area
Kildare Among Ireland’s Worst Counties For Illegal Fireworks Offences

Nationally, over 4,100 offences were recorded across the country, including 184 last year.
Outpouring Of Grief In Kildare Town After Death Of "Gentle Soul" Who Died Following A Serious Assault

Audio

The young man, named locally as Ryan, is understood to have been out socialising with a group of males.
BREAKING: Young Man Dies In Hospital Following Serious Assault In Kildare Town

He was taken to Naas hospital but passed away sometime today.
Weekend Rail Disruptions: Bus Transfers For Kildare And Athy Commuters Amid Major Works

InterCity services to and from Heuston will have bus transfers to either Kildare, Athy or Portarlington.
Councillor's Proposal To Turn Celbridge Library Into Family Resource Centre Shot Down By Council Officials

Cllr Rupert Heather said he was told the library would be moved to Parochial House when the purchase of that property is complete.
Fresh Hope For Leixlip Main Street As Some Property Owners Begin Clean-Up Of Run-Down Buildings

The council began a Compulsory Purchase process in June last year to take control of several vacant properties. However, that plan was overturned in April when An Coimisiún Pleanála ruled that the sites already had a live planning application, which runs until November 16th 2025.
Two Kildare Forests And Woods Make Coillte's Most Visited Recreational Parks List

Over three million people visited Coillte’s top 50 most popular recreational woodlands and parks in 2024