95. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Defence the number of external competitions held for external applications to apply for instruments posts within the Defence Forces in each of the years of 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; and the number of persons who applied for each of those competitions, in tabular form. [52713/26]

As Minister for Defence, I am fully committed to supporting and strengthening recruitment and retention in the Permanent Defence Force.

The Military Authorities advise that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) stood at 7,823 personnel on the 31 May, the latest date for which this figure is available.

Opportunities for careers in the Defence Forces remain open via a diverse range of ongoing competitions including general service recruitment, re-entry schemes and multiple direct entry competitions for specialist roles. A number of new competitions have launched in recent weeks including competitions for Instrumentalists, Aircraft Maintenance Technicians and Aerospace Technicians.

In the case of the instrumentalists, the Defence Forces advise me that skilled musicians are recruited through dedicated external recruitment competitions. Competitions for instrumentalists are held periodically for available positions in various Defence Forces Bands. These positions are open to all candidates who fulfil the eligibility criteria as outlined in the terms and conditions of the competition concerned. Typically, instrumentalist positions are filled through external recruitment rather than by existing members of the Defence Forces.

The Defence Forces have provided the table below as requested by the Deputy, there were no competitions in 2024 or 2025 and the 2026 competition has recently closed.

I recognise the value of the Defence Force Bands as an asset to the country and I am delighted to see instrumentalist recruitment taking place in 2026.