Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This 88 will not be the final number from the 1,000 who applied. Assessment is ongoing. As people who have been in the Defence Forces will know, in order to progress applications, medicals and security checks need to happen. A series of tests is required before a person can be inducted into the Defence Forces, including the Reserve. That process is under way for many more applicants. In truth, we have faced some challenges. We need to learn some lessons to improve the next time around. For example, the pressure the Permanent Defence Force has been under in providing medicals for those looking to join the Reserve has been an issue as regards resourcing and capacity. We have looked at outsourcing those medicals to GPs. We need to improve those structures to make sure that, when there is an appetite to join, we can turn that appetite into increased numbers.

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