Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Defence if recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force and the Cadets has been suspended for 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17939/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the public service with effect from 27 March 2009. In this context and given the reduced budgetary provision available for 2009, all recruitment to the Defence Forces, which includes both the Reserve Defence Force and the cadets, has been suspended for the present. The moratorium and the reduction in the pay budget were introduced as a cost saving measure to achieve necessary savings in the pay bill in the public sector. These savings will have to be achieved.

However, the implementation of the moratorium will require careful management. I have asked my officials, in consultation with the military authorities, to review all of the implications of the moratorium for the defence organisation and to identify any key priority issues that may require further consideration. My officials will also be working closely with officials from the Department of Finance. My objective is to ensure that the moratorium is managed in a manner that meets the Government's objectives and ensures the best outcome possible for the defence organisation as a whole. I assure the House that any recruitment in 2009 will prioritise the operational requirements of the Defence Forces.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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The Defence Forces has accepted cutbacks since the White Paper was introduced. Massive savings have been made and if every other Department had accepted the same level of cutbacks, we would not be in the position we are in now. Can the Minister be clear that there will be no recruitment to the Reserve Defence Forces this year? I remind the Minister that a large number of young people went through the process, training and education only to be told that they will not be part of the reserve. They are very disillusioned with that type of planning. It is hard to explain to them why they cannot join.

Can the Minister be more specific on the issue of cadets? Young people are planning for September, when people go to college. The Minister says the programme is suspended. When will he make an announcement so that people can plan for September? The cadet force is vital for the future of our Defence Forces. They are the future leaders of our Defence Forces. Morale is low enough in the Defence Forces. It will be a major blow to the Defence Forces if the Minister implements the policy.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I do not accept that morale is low in the Defence Forces. The Department of Defence has been very responsible in expenditure since the White Paper. It is probably the best behaved Department in the State from the point of view of public expenditure.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Yet, the Department is now punished for it.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Nevertheless, we are in difficult economic times and each Department must accept a certain amount of pain. Considering the figures, the Department is accepting less of the pain than others in recognition of what it has achieved in the past.

I am acutely aware of those who went through the process and were then told they cannot join the reserve. I am discussing this matter with the Department of Finance and my officials. I will make an announcement on the cadets as soon as I have had talks with my colleague, the Minister for Finance.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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I received representations from an individual in south Tipperary who indicated that there were 20 people in the recruitment process. The recruitment process has stopped because of the announcement of the embargo on 27 March. The great fear is that this group is becoming disillusioned and will be lost forever. That could have a knock-on effect on attracting others. It is vital that the blunt instrument approach of the embargo is dealt with. In regard to the Reserve Defence Force, I take it the Minister will take the case to the Minister for Finance to get leeway in respect of these people. I understand it takes several months to come through that process. Will the Minister seek leeway for such people to complete the process?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The difficulty is we have only a certain amount to pay people who engage in training.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Some people have indicated they would go without the payment.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that. My officials have a difficulty with the idea of a sort of two-tier reserve, with one group entitled to take up paid days while another group is excluded. That is one side of the story. The other side relates to the Deputy's valid point that we want to include people if possible. They have evinced an interest in the matter and it is damaging to morale and disillusioning to be told at this late stage in the process that they must be excluded. I am acutely aware of this and I will try to sort it out if I can.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I have two brief questions for the Minister. With regard to the Reserve Defence Force, how much does the Minister envisage he will save by stopping recruitment in a full year for the forces and cadets? He indicated this was a cost-saving measure. Will the recruitment embargo in the Reserve Defence Force have a knock-on effect on training camps in the current year? Will there be a reduction in the number of man days at camps? Will he provide details of this?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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A saving, particularly as regards public expenditure, can sometimes consist of an accumulation of small savings. I imagine the amount is quite small but it is part of an overall pattern.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister have a figure?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I will get the figure for the Deputy. On the question regarding man days, just in excess of 81,000 man days were utilised last year and this year we have provision for 60,000 man days, according to the difference in financing. I believe that is something in the order of €2 million but I will get the exact figure for the Deputy.