Tánaiste welcomes largest recruit intake to Defence Forces’ Joint Induction Training Centre in Gormanston

The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris today (19 March) welcomed the largest recruit intake to the Defence Forces’ Joint Induction Training Centre in Gormanston since the Centre opened in 2024.

In all, seventy two recruits started their training today as members of Óglaigh na hÉireann for service across all three services of the Defence Forces – Army, Air Corps or Naval Service.

The basic training will take approximately twenty four weeks, at the end of which today’s recruits will pass out as three star privates or seamen.

On completion of their twenty four weeks’ training, year 1 recruits will be paid €41,465, rising to €42,875 in year 2 and €44,176 in year 3, while newly commissioned officers are paid from €45,341 (school leaver) to €50,677 (graduate).

The Tánaiste paid tribute to the new recruits, of whom he said “they are embarking today on a fantastic career in the Defence Forces, which offers an unparalleled opportunity for personal development and lifelong learning.

The Tánaiste added:

“We are grateful for their service and their commitment the defence of the country. They are joining at a very exciting time for the Defence Forces, as the government continues to increase investment in defence.”

The Tánaiste also assured the new recruits of his commitment and that of the government to ensure that “each member of the Defence Forces is able to carry out their duties in a safe workplace, underpinned by dignity and equality and where there is zero tolerance of unacceptable behaviour and where lessons are learnt from historical experiences.

“I am determined that the Defence Forces will be an exemplar of best practice when it comes to dignity in the workplace and I know that this determination is shared by military management and my department”, the Tánaiste said.

The Tánaiste concluded by recalling that “this year’s record spending allocation on defence of €1.35 billion, an increase of 8 per cent on 2024, includes funding for the recruitment of net 400 additional Defence Forces members this year.”

As part of the strategy to increase Defence Forces recruitment, a Joint Induction Training Centre has been established in Gormanston and the military authorities have advised that, when fully operational, it will enable induction training to be provided to 900 recruits per annum.