David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 322 of 5 April 2011, when he expects the value for money review of the Reserve Defence Forces to be completed; if the steering committee has agreed on a timeframe for completion of this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25087/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, a value for money review of the Reserve Defence Force commenced in February 2010. Significant progress has been made on the review and in the normal course of events I would have expected it to have been completed and that we would be commencing the implementation of the review findings.

The Government is fully engaged in making the difficult corrections necessary to consolidate the public finances. In this regard, a comprehensive review of expenditure is under way. All Departments are working with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in identifying potential expenditure cuts. The Department of Defence is no exception to this process and there has been a broad review across all defence expenditure. This priority has drawn on the team undertaking the value for money review of the Reserve Defence Force which has resulted in the need to extend the time required to collate and analyse value for money data and prepare draft findings. More importantly, specific recommendations relating to the Reserve Defence Force cannot be presented in isolation from the broader review of the defence Vote. Accordingly, finalisation of the value for money review will take account of the outcome of the comprehensive review of expenditure process. The steering committee will meet in the coming weeks to consider the progress made to date and agree the timeframe for the completion of the review, taking account of the comprehensive review of expenditure process under way.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister agree that it has been a long time - some 18 months - since it commenced its work? When does he expect a report to finally issue? I ask him to outline his overall plans for the Reserve Defence Force? Does he agree that for decades the force has not had an objective or meaningful role beyond training? Will the forthcoming White Paper on defence contain a meaningful role it? Is it his intention that it should continue in existence? Is he aware that some people suggest we do not need a Reserve Defence Force anymore, while others suggest it should be used as in other countries and serve overseas? When is the White Paper on defence due to be published?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am keenly aware of the concerns expressed by some of the members of the Reserve Defence Force. I attended the annual meeting and used my time to engage with members of the force and discuss their concerns. I am, of course, aware of the importance of maintaining the Reserve Defence Force and its role will be one of the issues to be addressed in the White Paper. I believe I would have told the House at an early stage that before we published a White Paper it was my intention to publish a Green Paper to afford an opportunity for public debate and input by Members of the House into the contents of the White Paper. I am conscious that the previous White Paper essentially laid down a prescription for the Defence Forces for more than a decade. I am conscious, therefore, of the timeframe that may apply to a new White Paper and I am anxious that Members and the general public have an opportunity to feed into the process. The White Paper will address issues relating to the Reserve Defence Force, but the Green Paper initially will do so also. It will afford members of the Reserve Defence Force the opportunity to feed into the deliberative process. I do not want to prejudge the future role of the Reserve Defence Force in the context of what I hope will prove to be a constructive public discussion and discussion in this House on the Green Paper when finalised which I hope will happen, if not before the end of this year, very early next year.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the announcement that a Green Paper will be published relatively soon. What is the effective strength of the Reserve Defence Force? Has any recruitment taken place in the past 12 months? What are the plans for further recruitment in the next 12 months?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have a figure in my head for the current strength of the Reserve Defence Force, but I do not have the exact figure in the file. I do not want to give a figure to the Deputy without ensuring it is correct. I propose to furnish it to him later. There may be a difference between the formal number of members of the Reserve Defence Force and those who are actively engaged in training with it. There is a distinction in the figures, but I will certainly furnish the up-to-date figures to the Deputy.