David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Defence the current strength of the Reserve Defence Forces; the numbers recruited to the RDF since January 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47415/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve was 6,103 on 31 October 2010, the most recent date for which figures are available. This comprises 5,832 Army Reserve and 271 Naval Reserve. The number recruited to the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, from 1 January 2009 to 1 November 2010, the most recent date for which figures are available, was 900. In March 2009 all recruitment to the RDF was temporarily suspended in the context of the Government decision on the implementation of savings measures relating to public service numbers and the reduced budgetary provision available for 2009. Following a subsequent review and examination of RDF personnel numbers and budgets for 2009, limited recruitment resumed. This recruitment was to fill vacancies arising as a result of existing RDF members resigning or being discharged in the normal manner.

This limited recruitment was subject to the overall strength level that existed at 1 January 2009 - 7,671 - not being exceeded. It also included a proviso that recruitment would be monitored and kept under review in the light of the uptake of paid training within the RDF and the future budgetary provision. In 2009, the budget available for the reserve provided for 60,000 paid training man days. In 2010, further budgetary reductions reduced the provision to 31,000 paid training man days. The man-day allocation provides for annual paid training for existing members of the reserve and also provides for targeted developmental training such as career courses and skills courses. The training of new recruits inducted into the reserve must also be met from within the man-day allocation. The level of recruitment must be carefully balanced to ensure appropriate training and development opportunities for all members of the reserve.

The Department, in consultation with the military authorities, is currently considering the level of recruitment to the reserve that can be supported in 2011 and beyond, having regard to maintaining the existing capabilities of the reserve to the greatest extent possible. This must factor in the resources available for 2011 and the further budgetary reductions required under the Government's national recovery plan.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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How many personnel were recruited to the RDF in 2010? Has an instruction been issued in respect of suspending recruitment to the RDF for the foreseeable future? What are the Minister's plans with regard to the future of the RDF? If the current rate of reduction continues, the number of personnel within the RDF will drop to as low as 2,000 in a couple of years. Is the Minister in a position to provide projections in this regard?

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I do not have a breakdown regarding the 900 personnel recruited in 2009 and 2010. However, I will obtain it for the Deputy. Quite a number of those who have been recruited are at the stage between approval and admission to the reserve. These individuals are obliged to undergo various security checks, and so on. There appear to have been some delays in this regard. I have not issued any instruction to the effect that recruitment to the reserve should be discontinued and I am not aware of such an instruction being issued by anyone else.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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To be clear, neither the Minister nor anyone else has issued an instruction.

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I am not aware of any such instruction.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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That is not the same as an instruction not being issued. Will the Minister check whether such an instruction has been issued by either the military authorities or his Department and then inform us of the position? I have been informed that an instruction such as that to which I refer may have been issued and I am seeking confirmation with regard to whether that is the case. Will the Minister indicate the number of training days allocated for 2010? Will he further indicate the number of these that have been used to date?

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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In my initial reply I stated that there were 60,000 training days in 2009 and 31,000 in 2010. When I last checked the position at the end of the summer, a substantial proportion of the days allocated for this year had not yet been taken up. However, I will obtain the precise figure and forward it to the Deputy.