Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is very important that we retain the local element relating to the Reserve Defence Force. A number of years ago, there were proposals from the Department and the Defence Forces to regionalise the local Reserve Defence Force in my area to Dundalk in order to cover the Cavan-Monaghan-Longford area. I raised the matter in representations to the Minister of State via parliamentary questions. Thankfully, it did not happen. It is important to retain that structure whereby there is a knowledge of the workings of the Reserve Defence Force at local level and that there is local input. Over the years, people with local knowledge were able to recruit locally because they knew the type of young lady or young man who would be suitable for recruitment. Many such people subsequently served in the Permanent Defence Force.

I previously mentioned to the Minister of State that I understand it can be difficult to recruit at times. Many of our colleges of further education and post-leaving certificate programmes run security courses. There may be a cohort of young people who are hoping to pursue a career in that area and are studying security courses in our colleges of further education who would be interested to know that the Reserve Defence Force is recruiting. It would be worth ensuring that awareness is created in that regard. I sincerely hope that will be done.