Defence Forces needs 700 new recruits per year to reach full strength 

The Irish Defence Forces are currently 1,000 personnel short of their minimum strength.

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, according to the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO).

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