Concerns over shortage of artillery experts in armed forces

PDForra, the association which represents 6,500 enlisted Defence Forces members, has expressed serious concerns about the staffing levels and rate of discharges of personnel from the Ordnance Corps, who are the personnel with responsibility for the maintenance of weapons and heavy armaments. File picture: Colin Keegan/ Collins Dublin

The army is running critically short of technical experts who service heavy artillery and help train troops in the use of such equipment.

Many have quit in recent months as the skills they have learnt in the Defence Forces are highly sought after and can be adapted for other uses in the private sector.