The Defence Forces has launched a new general service recruitment competition.

The Minister with Responsibility for Defence, Paul Kehoe, made the announcement on Tuesday.

The Department of Defence says its target for the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) - Army, Naval Service and Air Corps - is 9,500 personnel.

It is hoped that just over 800 new personnel will have joined the PDF by the end of 2017.

Minister Kehoe says the new recruitment campaign "reflects the Government's commitment to meeting PDF strength targets".

Image: military.ie

"This general service recruitment campaign will build upon the successes of previous recruitment campaigns from which it is expected that just over 800 new personnel will have been inducted into the Permanent Defence Force by the end of 2017.

"As this will deplete existing panels, it is now appropriate that we initiate a new campaign in order to provide for the induction of further personnel in 2018".

The minister also says that following on from recent increases to pay, newly qualified three-star Privates and their Naval Service equivalent can expect minimum gross annual earnings of €27,000.

The recruitment drive is runs from Wednesday September 27th until Friday October 27th 2017 on the military.ie website.