Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, as at 30 September 2011, was: First Line Reserve, 287; Army Reserve, 5,138; Naval Service Reserve, 224.

The number of personnel that can be recruited to the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve is dependent on the funding available for paid training. The 2011 budget provided for approximately 30,000 paid training man days. These man days provide for annual paid training for existing members of the reserve, for targeted developmental training, such as career courses and skills courses, and for certain training for new recruits.

The level of recruitment to the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve must be balanced to ensure that appropriate training and development opportunities for all members of the reserve are maintained. The 2011 provision allowed for the training of approximately 200 recruits only. The number of available man days in the coming year will be dependent on budget 2012 which has not yet been determined. Accordingly, there have been no decisions regarding recruitment in 2012.

A value for money review of the Reserve Defence Force commenced in February 2010. Significant progress has been made and work is ongoing. Other priorities such as the comprehensive review of expenditure have drawn on the team undertaking the value for money review of the RDF. This has resulted in the need to extend the time required to complete the review.

Finalisation and recommendations arising from the value for money review will also have to take account of the outcome of the comprehensive review of expenditure.

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