Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 11, 29 and 38 together. The Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes included a recommendation for full year savings of €5.6 million, arising from a two thirds reduction in the strength of the reserve Defence Force. This is one of many recommendations contained in the report.

Planned expenditure levels for my Department will be considered as part of the budgetary and Estimates process for 2010. This includes consideration of the recommendations contained in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes. The decisions on all of the issues arising will be a matter for the Government. As this is the subject of an ongoing deliberative process, it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this point.

The Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the public service with effect from 27 March 2009 and, as with the broader public service, the defence organisation is required to operate with reduced funding. My first priority for the reserve was to consolidate the gains that have been made over recent years. In this context, limited recruitment in order to replace existing members who leave during the course of 2009 was sanctioned. This ongoing limited recruitment is being closely monitored and will be kept under review in light of the uptake of paid training and the future budgetary provision available to the Department of Defence. At the end of August 2009, the total strength of the reserve was 6,973.

While the budgetary provision for training of members of the reserve has been reduced for 2009, a total of 60,000 paid training man days has been provided. This is sufficient to allow all current members to undertake paid training during 2009. The budgetary constraints and moratorium on recruitment have also required the postponement of overseas service for members of the reserve for the foreseeable future.

The Reserve Defence Force review implementation plan has provided the framework for the development of the reserve over recent years. Revised organisation structures came into effect in October 2005 and the reserve has been reorganised along similar lines to the Permanent Defence Force. In line with the plan, new equipment, clothing and opportunities for improved training have been delivered. The development of an integrated element of the reserve was intended to further enhance the capability of the reserve. In line with the plan, a pilot integration programme was introduced in 2007 and extended into 2008. The numbers participating in these pilots were disappointing and this element of the plan has not achieved the intended results. As the Reserve Defence Force review implementation plan is reaching its conclusion, there is a requirement to critically examine the progress that has been made to date and to consider options for the future development of the reserve. This will be informed by the valuable lessons learned from the implementation process.

In addition, the Reserve Defence Force was selected for review as part of the 2009–11 phase of the Government's value for money and policy review initiative and this review is scheduled to commence in the near future. It is anticipated that the review, together with the general budgetary situation, will also assist in informing decisions regarding the future development of the reserve.

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