A Sligo-Leitrim TD is criticising the Department of Defence over what he calls a major failure in its handling of a recruitment drive for the defence forces.
The Department launched a programme last year to encourage former and retired staff to return to service amid a nationwide personnel shortage among the three branches.
Fianna Faíl TD Marc Mac Sharry has branded the scheme as a complete failure with low numbers of NCOs and commissioned officers selected to return to service, despite a large pool of applicants.
According to figures obtained by Deputy Mac Sharry, 744 personnel of non commisioned rank applied for the scheme with just 55 accepted from that number and only 44 having been reinstated so far.
Just 18 former commissioned officers have been accepted from a total of 60 who have reapplied to the defence forces.
The Sligo-Leitrim TD is calling for the immediate transfer of the responsibilty for recruitment and personal to the Defence Forces Chief of Staff.
