No direct knowledge of when F/O recruitment will restart, but early next year sounds reasonable.
Applicants specify base preference (1st 2nd and 3rd choices) on initial application, the company will do their best to match your choice, but there are no guarantees. JER or GCI extremely unlikely unless you have Channel Islands residency. Not many volunteers for Belfast, Glasgow or Fraggle Rock, so they are all quite common intial basings.