Defence Forces jobs have become more attractive, and Irish Naval Service recruits now get a basic of €39,000, while subsidies mean they only spend €44 a week on meals and lodgings
The Defence Forces recruitment crisis has been well publicised, but at €3 a week for a bed in a barracks, and €40 for food, cheap accommodation may be one weapon to help attract new recruits, writes Sean O’Riordan, Defence Correspondent
As the navy is reduced to just two ships due to lack of staff, new figures confirm the army lost 627 staff in a year and only has 49 recruits in training