Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

The 2010 provision under subhead D is €4.7 million and this will provide approximately 31,000 paid man days. That will allow 3,500 members to undertake seven paid training days each with the provision for career courses and so on. The provision for 2009 was €8.9 million, of which €6.651 million was utilised. The number of training days utilised in 2009 was approximately 54,190. On that occasion, 3,565 reservists availed of paid training compared to the likely number of 3,500 this year.

Deputy O'Shea mentioned that the slow progress in recruitment was due to the slow process. It may well be a valid point and it has been mentioned by members of the reserves. There are probably other factors which may be more fundamental, as I commented in an earlier reply. We must consider the matter. We will have an opportunity to undertake some of this in the context of the value for money report, which we will receive and consider.

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