Denis Landy (Labour)
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I apologise to the Minister for arriving late and briefly delaying him. The issue I raise is the proposed closure of the Reserve Defence Force facility in Clonmel. As the Minister will be aware, Kickham Barracks closed on 29 March last, thus ending 350 years of a military presence in Clonmel. The Third Cavalry Battalion of the Reserve Defence Force was attached to the barracks and following its closure, negotiations with the Minister resulted in a Reserve Defence Force headquarters being located in Clonmel. As a result, 55 active members continued their weekly meetings and training at the location.

As a result of the Minister's recent announcement in that the Reserve Defence Force will be consolidated nationwide, the Third Cavalry Battalion will cease to function in Clonmel and move to Cork. This decision has come as a great shock to the 55 members of the battalion who serve in the town. This group, which include individuals from Carrick-on-Suir, where I live, Cahir, Fethard and surrounding areas, will have to travel to Cork for training every week if they wish to continue to serve their country. Making this journey of approximately 70 miles in each direction will require the provision of at least two minibuses. While I am aware of the cost of renting, operating and maintaining the building currently in use in Clonmel, the decision to close the facility and incur weekly transport costs to Cork does not make financial sense. Moreover, the loss to Clonmel of this military unit, of which I was a member for many years, will also result in the loss of a military tradition as Reserve Defence Force will no longer be recruited in south County Tipperary.

Following his recent announcement, the Minister indicated the closed Kickham Barracks will be developed to provide a new Garda barracks and other services. At this late stage, I appeal to him to give a commitment to serving members of the Reserve Defence Force in Clonmel that he will reserve a section of the new facility at the barracks to allow them to return to Clonmel. Such a decision would save money in the long term and allow a 350 year old tradition in the town to continue. It would also facilitate continued recruitment in the local area of young men and women who wish to serve in the Reserve Defence Force. I ask the Minister to consider my proposal and look forward to his response.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Landy for raising this issue. As he will be aware, a value for money review of the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, was recently completed and published. The review was undertaken by a steering committee with an independent chair and had representatives from the Department of Defence, Defence Forces and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It found that the current effective strength of the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve, at 4,500 personnel, was substantially less than half that of the 9,692 personnel for which the organisational structures were designed. In addition, it found that the low uptake of training within the reserve raised serious questions about its current capacity. For example, during 2011 the number of reservists who met paid and unpaid training targets required for the payment of a gratuity was 2,010 personnel.

The steering committee made a series of recommendations which were aimed at ensuring a viable Reserve Defence Force into the future. In this context, a key recommendation was for a major reorganisation of the reserve, with organisational structures that were sustainable within the current resource envelope. Arising from the reorganisation of the Permanent Defence Force, within a strength level of 9,500 personnel, the number of Permanent Defence Force personnel available to support the Army Reserve in a full-time capacity is being reduced to 48. A cadre of a further nine Permanent Defence Force personnel is assigned to support the Naval Service Reserve.

The steering committee recommended an Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve based on a total strength ceiling of 4,000 personnel, 3,800 of whom would be Army Reserve and 200 of whom Naval Service Reserve personnel. It recommended the retention of a country-wide geographic spread with units in existing Permanent Defence Force installations and 16 locations outside these installations.

I accepted these recommendations and directed that proposals for new organisational structures be prepared. The chief of staff and Secretary General of my Department submitted a joint report which set out detailed re-organisation proposals, including unit structures and the location of reserve units. Their recommendation was based on a single force concept which differs from the current model of reserve organisation. Army units will have permanent and reserve elements rather than a parallel reserve structure as at present.

This approach offers significant advantages in terms of accessing equipment and training. Under this organisational model, the only Army reserve elements outside Permanent Defence Force installations will be reserve infantry companies. All other Army reserve combat support and combat service support elements will be co-located with their PDF counterparts in PDF installations. This will be in Cork in the case of 1 Brigade. Accordingly, it is no longer feasible to retain reserve cavalry or medical elements in Clonmel. The training and support of reserve elements of defence force units located in PDF installations will be undertaken by the PDF element of those units. The 16 reserve infantry companies outside PDF installations will have additional support from 16 teams of full time PDF personnel.

The Senator will appreciate that the consolidation of existing reserve into a small number of full strength units means it is not possible to retain all existing locations. Clonmel was not selected as a location for one of these 16 infantry companies which are distributed throughout the country. I emphasise that this is not a negative reflection on the quality of participation of the current reservists in Clonmel but reflects the reality that all locations cannot be retained.

All members of the reserve will be afforded the opportunity to apply for positions within the new organisational structure, having regard to their particular needs. The closest reserve infantry companies to Clonmel will be based in Waterford, Kilkenny and Templemore. Personnel will be able to avail of retraining should this be required. The overall travel costs of the new reserve units will not be known for some time but I can confirm that no increase in the overarching reserve budget is anticipated or planned. I am satisfied that given a reduction in direct expenditure on the reserve of ¤11 million in 2013, the new reserve will be significantly more cost-effective than the existing organisation.

Finally, I emphasise that the contribution and commitment of each member of the reserve is valued and appreciated. I sincerely hope all members of the Reserve Defence Force will continue to serve within the new organisation. Unfortunately, I cannot accede to the request made by the Senator that we preserve the reserve in Clonmel or that Clonmel remain a location for reserve training.

Denis Landy (Labour)
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The Minister is proposing to provide finance for the development of the old Army barracks into a new Garda unit. When that happens and when the economic situation is better, will he consider returning an element of the reserve defence forces to Clonmel? While the Minister has listed the nearest locations, this is a cavalry battalion that is to be located in Cork. Therefore, the costs, as I have outlined, can be estimated and will certainly outweigh the current costs. I regret that I must raise this issue on the Adjournment and that this seems to be the last chance for the military serving in Clonmel.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The decisions made in this regard were based on the operational assessments and judgements of the chief of staff and Secretary General of my Department looking at the most appropriate locations to ensure we preserve a nationwide representation of the reserve. In respect of the issue the Senator raised relating to Cork, I emphasise that all reservists will be invited to apply for positions within the new organisational structure. They must decide based on their particular circumstances as to which units best serve their needs. This can and may include transferring from their current corps such as cavalry to an alternative such as infantry. Every effort will be made to facilitate reservists with their choice, however, this may not be feasible if units are over-subscribed. As this process unfolds, there will be a clearer picture as to the locations which reservists wish to relocate to. It is important to state that military authorities have informed that they do not envisage transporting reservists from Clonmel to Cork or other locations.

I hope members of the Reserve Defence Force, particularly active members who are doing the community a service and are committed to and very much enjoy their involvement and engagement in the reserve, will show the flexibility and understanding that is necessary in the circumstances that now pertain. In the context of the reserve, we must ensure that it has a capability, that members of the reserve participate in the minimum training and that the reserve re-adjusts itself to the very substantial and dramatic changes made in the Permanent Defence Force where we have moved from a three-brigade to a two-brigade structure. I have an obligation in current circumstances as Minister for Justice, Defence and Equality to ensure that the re-organisation of the Permanent Defence Force is reflected in an appropriate re-organisation of the Reserve Defence Force in the context of ensuring the public gets value for money and that we do not unduly waste resources. In addition, the advantage of the new arrangements is that there will be greater connectivity between the Permanent Defence Force and the reserve, as opposed to a reserve operating to a great extent as a separate organisation save for the PDF cadre that was available to assist it in its operations and training.

I hope the reforms will be welcomed by the members of the reserve insofar as they will have a changing and, I hope, more relevant role and a greater engagement with the PDF in general. I also hope that those members of the reserve who have been engaged and active will continue to do so. I am also anxious to ensure that, in the context of the reserve, we have a real strength as opposed to a nominal one. I have concerns that, as I pointed out in 2011, only 2,010 of the 4,500 members of the reserve fully participated in the minimum seven days training that is prescribed to maintain some degree of capability within the reserve. I am sure the reservists in Clonmel are disappointed that this location has not been retained. We will over a period of months be working through the implementation of the reforms, which will not be implemented overnight. A consultative process is taking place. I wish all the members in Clonmel well and thank them for their service so far. I hope those members in Clonmel who are committed to and actively participating in the reserve can re-adjust to maintain their involvement.