891 people left the Irish Defence Forces last year, while only 435 signed up.
The exodus means the number of personnel available to Ireland's military continues to decrease.
In April 2019, there were 8,828 permanent personnel, but it dropped to 7,987 as of February this year.
Cathal Berry, Independent TD and former army ranger, says members don't feel valued whatsoever:
"There's almost no political interest from the political establishment's point of view, either in government or in the opposition. And as a result, they're quite rightly detecting that the state's energy is not in defence. It's not in the Defence Forces - it's elsewhere. And that's why our personnel are going 'Well, if our own government aren't interested in defence, which clearly they're not, then why should we be?" and they try to get a better job, in a better location, where their contribution is valued".
