Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the future role of the Reserve Defence Forces [48756/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Since its launch in July 2004 the Reserve Defence Force review implementation plan has provided the framework for the development of the Reserve. This plan sought to progressively develop Reserve capabilities and had an implementation timeframe that extended to the end of 2009. A value for money, VFM, review of the Reserve Defence Force commenced in February 2010. It was intended that the recommendations of this review would inform plans regarding the future development of the Reserve.

In the intervening period there has been significant change and uncertainty in the economic environment. Resource constraints have further impacted all aspects of defence expenditure, including the Reserve. Arising from the comprehensive review of expenditure, CRE, the Government agreed to stabilise the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, PDF, at 9,500 personnel and a major reorganisation of the PDF is in progress in order to ensure that it retains the operational capacity required to fulfil all the roles assigned to it.

The steering committee undertaking the VFM review of the Reserve had to ensure that recommendations regarding the future development of the Reserve had due regard to resource constraints. The VFM review has taken longer than anticipated due to other priorities, such as the CRE. However, in reality, any recommendations that may have been made in advance of the CRE and reorganisation of the PDF would have been quickly superseded.

The steering committee established to oversee the VFM review submitted the completed report to myself and the Secretary General during October 2012. Responses to the recommendations contained in this report are currently being developed and will be completed in advance of its publication. This is a normal part of the VFM process and consistent with the guidelines for such reviews. When this process is completed my Department will arrange a full briefing for the representative associations. I am aware that there is considerable interest in this particular VFM review and I have directed that this process be expedited. I anticipate its completion in the very near future.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The recommendations contained in the report encompass all aspects of the Reserve, including future roles for the Reserve. However, the Deputy will appreciate that it would be premature for me to engage in discussions at this point, pending completion of the VFM process. There will be an opportunity to discuss all aspects of the report, its recommendations, and future plans, after the report is published. I look forward to having a full discussion at that point.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister will be aware of the growing concern that the Reserve Defence Force is to be depleted by thousands.

As a Deputy for Donegal North East, I have met individuals in my constituency who are concerned about the supports for the Reserve Defence Force. They told me about a recruitment day held in one of the community schools when 100 young people expressed a wish to be involved. They could not provide for all the young people who attended. Members of the Reserve travel long distances, give significant amounts of their time and fund-raise for various good causes. All of this connects the Defence Forces with local communities. The Reserve Defence Force is the umbilical link between our Defence Forces and local communities. It is a tremendous organisation. Every euro invested in it gives a significant return.

Whatever the Minister is considering, I ask him to think about the impact it will have on the ground. During a profound recession when large numbers of young people are out of work, it is more critical than ever that we have a Reserve Defence Force whose ethos is supported in every way.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The recommendations in the report encompass all aspects of the Reserve, including future roles for the Reserve. There is no suggestion that the Reserve will be abolished. I can give assurances in that regard.

The Deputy must appreciate that it would be premature of me to engage in discussions at this point, pending completion of the VFM process which deals with recommendations and the appropriate response to them. There will be an opportunity to discuss all aspects of the report, its recommendations and future plans when it is published. We will have a full discussion on that. It is important that we identify the future role of the Reserve and where expenditure should be applied with regard to it.

The nominal membership of the Reserve is substantially greater than the number who engage in Reserve training and are functioning members of the Reserve. In the light of the reorganisation of the Defence Forces from three brigades to two and given the resource issues, there is a need to ensure that the resources made available to the Reserve are used efficiently and in the best interest of the country, as opposed to being spent with no assessment of the benefit accruing from it. We must identify the roles the Reserve can play and how its training facilitates it in playing those roles.

I expect, very shortly, to be in a position to publish the report. I hope we will discuss it at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality where we can have a more free-flowing conversation than during Question Time.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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The VFM review was initiated by the previous Government. The Reserve Defence Force Representative Association, RDFRA, made very imaginative submissions to the review as to how the Reserve Defence Force could be deployed. We must find ways to deploy the patriotic spirit of the members of the Reserve that do not involve cutting their numbers. The Reserve is a huge resource to the Irish people. We should not allow the spending cuts process to take the heart out of that movement.

The Minister says the process is not completed. Before he signs off on it, I ask him to take one more look at the suggestions contained in the RDFRA document which was submitted in August 2010 and is still relevant.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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There is a real difference between the establishment figures of the Reserve and the actual figures. The Army Reserve establishment is 9,292 and the effective strength is 4,293, although not all of those are engaging in the training days made available to them. The Naval Service Reserve projected establishment is 400 and the real figure is 180. Therefore, the effective strength of the Reserve Defence Force is 4,473. We must look at this. A significant number of individuals start initial training in the Reserve and fall away within a short period of time. Resources are put into that also.

We must look at the role the Reserve should play. Given the professionalism of the Permanent Defence Force, we are fortunate that the Reserve has not had to be called out for any major functions for quite some years. This is because the PDF is equipped to deal with the various issues that arise. We must also ensure that the Reserve is not deployed in an activity for which it has not been trained.

These issues are addressed in the VFM. I hope to be in a position to publish it in a few weeks at most, certainly during the course of this month. We will then have a constructive discussion at the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality.