Defence Forces to recruit up to 900 before end of the year

Up to 900 new members are to be recruited to the Irish Defence Forces before the end of the year, in order to maintain numbers at 9,500.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter yesterday launched a recruitment campaign for up to 400 personnel for the Permanent Defence Forces and up to 500 for the Reserve. The recruits will be for both the Army and the Naval Service.

A Defence Forces spokesman said the recruitment will be run through a centralised online application system on its website, military.ie.

“Applicants for recruitment to both the permanent and reserve Defence Forces will be required to complete broadly similar assessments, including physical fitness and interview assessment,” said the spokesman.

“This will be the first intake of recruits to the reserve, following on the reorganisation of the permanent and reserve Defence Forces in line with the ‘Single Force Concept’ whereby reserve units are embedded into permanent defence force formations.”

Under the new structure, army units have both permanent and reserve Defence Force components, as opposed to the separate parallel structures that previously existed.

The Defence Forces said its new campaign had been designed to attract enthusiastic and committed men and women from all backgrounds and ethnicities.

“With the changes in the makeup of Ireland’s population, it is important that we raise awareness and attract recruits from all backgrounds, including the new Irish, so that our Defence Forces — permanent and reserve — reflect the society that they serve,” said Mr Shatter as he announced the recruitment drive at a citizenship ceremony in Waterford.

“As such, it is appropriate that I am launching the Defence Forces recruitment campaign here in Waterford at this citizenship ceremony which recognises and welcomes our new citizens.

“Just as these new citizens contribute to the richness and diversity of Irish society, I would like to invite and encourage them to participate in all the institutions of the State and, particularly, to consider a career in Defence Forces, in An Garda Síochána and indeed in the other institutions of the State of which they are now citizens.”

The spokesman said the Defence Forces was particularly interested in attracting applications from women.

Meanwhile, the 25,000 who applied to join An Garda Siochána in its latest recruitment drive have been whittled down to 5,000 after the first stage of the selection process. It is anticipated that up to 400 new recruits will be drafted in each year.