Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I got correspondence about the issues that were raised at the Oireachtas committee by the Reserve and the Department replied to that in conjunction with the Permanent Defence Forces. They raised a number of issues and those issues were answered and replied to. The effective strength of the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve as of 31 December 2018, which is the latest date for which figures are available, was 1,779 personnel. The Army Reserve had 1,666 and the Naval Service Reserve had 133. The strength of the First Line Reserve on 31 December 2018 was 288 personnel.

I have previously stated that if people have any ideas about encouraging the general public to get involved in the Reserve Defence Forces they should make them known. We have put a very rigorous recruitment programme together that is very attractive in terms of training and education for people when they join up.

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