Officers' association believes target of 11,500 in Defence Forces is 'major challenge'

The country’s current military strength stands at 7,500 personnel of all ranks, including both fully trained and untrained. File photo

It will be a "major challenge” for the Defence Forces to reach its recommended minimum strength of 11,500 personnel by 2028, according to the representative association for officers.

The general secretary of the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO), Lieutenant Colonel Conor King, said the country’s current military strength stands at 7,500 personnel of all ranks, including both fully trained and untrained. This is still only 65% of the 2028 target.

“It is critical that the recently seen stabilisation of strength numbers is built upon through a range of further vital recruitment and retention initiatives such as a significant improvement in cadets pay, better pension arrangements for post-2013 personnel, and the review of specialist pay and training establishments that has been recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces and accepted by Government, but remains as yet undelivered,” Lt Col King said.

He told delegates attending the association’s annual conference that under the Working Time Directive a project is underway to define what constitutes the working day for members of the Defence Forces.

RACO is closely monitoring this process to ensure it reflects the realities of military service while upholding the core principle of fair treatment.

“It's important to emphasise that 48 hours per week is the legal maximum, not the goal, as we should align ourselves with other public sector workers in the normal run of things," he said.

"Members who regularly work in excess of a normal week during an agreed reference period deserve compensation, whether that be time off, or premium payments such as overtime, a regular feature of the conditions of all other public servants, but verboten in the Defence Forces, though not in the Department of Defence,” Lt Col King added.

Falling officer numbers

Meanwhile, RACO president Lt Col Martin Ryan said, for the past three years, they have reported on the deteriorating officer strength at unit levels throughout the Defence Forces.

“Last year the reported figure for the infantry battalions was an officer strength of 53% and disappointingly this year there is further deterioration to 47%, with the rank of captain most alarming at just under 43%. This can’t be acceptable,” he said.

He added this has a detrimental impact on oversight, governance, risk, employee welfare, and safety. RACO's calling for increased allowances for overseas service to make it more attractive.

People are not volunteering for such deployments because of poor allowances, he said. This has had the knock-on effect of more and more vacancies on overseas missions being filled mandatorily.