Naval Service recruitment set to rise 65% on last year 

The crisis in recruitment and retention in the Naval Service saw the number of patrol days drop from 1,061 in 2019 to 790 in 2022. File picture: Denis Minihane

The Naval Service is on course to recruit around 160 sailors in 2025, a rise of almost 65% on last year, official figures indicate.

A total of 84 recruits have been inducted by the end of August, with almost a similar number scheduled to join before the end of the year.

Figures provided by the Department of Defence show that some 163 recruits are expected to be recruited in 2025.

That compares to a recruitment total of 97 in 2024, 68 in 2023, and just 28 in 2022.

It is not clear how many sailors will leave the Naval Service (NS) in total this year; by the end of August, there had been 33 discharges.

That would suggest the numbers leaving in 2025 will probably be less than last year (75) and considerably less than the previous five years, when it averaged around 100 per year.

The statement from the department shows a net intake — inductions minus discharges — of 54 at the end of August.

Naval Service personnel could reach 800

Military sources are hopeful that the net number at the end of the year could bring the strength of the NS closer towards 800. As of 31 July last, it stood at 745.

“We don’t know the final discharge numbers and won’t until early next year, but there are reasons to be hopeful we could be hitting the high 700s,” one source said.

This would return the NS strength back closer to 2022 figures (798) and definitely higher than last year when numbers dropped to a low to 719.

The crisis in recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces — seen most sharply in the NS — saw the number of patrol days drop from 1,061 in 2019 to 790 in 2022.

From there it fell to 520 days in 2023 and to 428 days in 2024.

Of the 84 inductions to August, 73 have been general service recruits and 11 have been direct entry (DEs) specialists, including two marine engineer officers. More than 10 more DEs are expected before the end of the year.

Of the 33 discharges, 30 are enlisted personnel and three are officers.

The establishment strength of the NS is 1,094, meaning it is 350 personnel short.

Under the recommendation (LOA2) adopted by the government from the Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF) in February 2022, the strength of the NS is supposed to grow by a further 700 by 2028, on top of the establishment figure – meaning a total of 1,794 staff.

As it stands that requires 1,000 net additional staff, including discharges, by 2028.

The department’s statement said Budget 2025 provided a record allocation of €1.35bn, including a provision to recruit 400 people across the three services at a cost of €13m.

It said the Defence Forces was making concerted efforts to increase recruitment beyond this net figure.

Tánaiste and Defence Minister Simon Harris has told the Dáil that he is due to receive a Naval Service Regeneration Plan "shortly" from military authorities.