Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. Based on the numbers for previous years, we can see the levels are dropping significantly and we are haemorrhaging good people. Is any advertising planned for this year and next year to get people into the RDF?

In his opening statement, the Minister of State mentioned the fantastic work members of the RDF did in flood relief only a few months ago. Recently, a person told me his man days for annual training had been removed and he will not be allowed to attend annual training this summer, given that he used them up on flood relief.

He wants to volunteer but he has been assisting communities with their flood relief measures and is not being allowed to conduct his own training this summer. These are very practical changes we can make to facilitate reservists as much as possible. People want to volunteer but are being stopped.

An advertising campaign would not involve a huge amount of money but would let people know the reserve still exists. When barracks and outposts were closed down the reserve was taken out of many communities and the opportunity for people to get involved in the Reserve Defence Force was lost. We need a proactive advertising campaign such as was done this year for the Permanent Defence Force, which involved an excellent video showing women in sport aimed at addressing the shortfall of women in the Defence Forces. Something similar for the Reserve Defence Force could make a very good impact.

I appreciate the Minister's comments on the Reserve Defence Force and I will liaise with him further to put forward practical solutions to the problems with this fantastic organisation that we are on the verge of losing. As somebody who spent a long time in the organisation and who has experienced the benefits at first hand, I would find it very sad to lose the Reserve Defence Force from this country. The Minister mentioned the recently signed contract with Babcock and said initial payments under the contract would be met from the overall 2016 defence allocation. He then said he expected to engage with the committee later in the year for a technical supplementary Estimate to give effect to the use of savings on other subheads to meet this additional funding. What savings does the Minister expect and under what subheads will they arise?

Should I continue with my questions?