Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 16: To ask the Minister for Defence the stage of implementation at which the review of the Reserve Defence Forces is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25676/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Reserve Defence Force review implementation plan, which was officially launched in July 2004, sets out an ambitious programme of reform and modernisation for the reserve for the period up to end 2009. We are still at a relatively early stage in the lifetime of the plan but I am pleased to say that the implementation deadlines that have been set for specific targets are being met and in some cases are ahead of schedule.

To date work has been completed, as per the plan target, on the reorganisation of the reserve. The necessary regulatory changes are prepared and I will formally launch the reorganised reserve on Saturday, 1 October at a ceremony in Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick. This reorganisation involves the disestablishment and amalgamation of reserve units throughout the country and I am pleased to say that the consultative and communicative approach that the military authorities have adopted in this process, has made this change as painless as possible for those involved. I would also like to credit the representative associations for their constructive engagement with the reorganisation process.

In addition to the reorganisation outlined above, the other aspects of the plan are also on schedule. The equipment programme is being implemented with the Steyr rifle programme ahead of schedule and the support weapons programme on target. The reserve has already received issues of new clothing as provided for in the plan.

The training programme is progressing on schedule and many training syllabi for the reserve have been revised and approved. Work will continue in this area over the course of the plan. The establishment of the Reserve Defence Force training authority alongside the Defence Forces training centre in the Curragh, which is provided for in the reorganised reserve, represents an important development that will further enhance the quality of training available to the reserve. The twinning of reserve units with their PDF counterparts will also improve the availability of specialised equipment and expertise. This will further contribute to the quality of training available to the reserve.

The financial allocation to support the training function is in line with plan targets. The current allocation of 114,000 mandays which provides for paid training days represents an 80% increase over the original allocation. Further increases in allocations, subject to financial prioritisation within the military budget as a whole, are provided for.

Although I am satisfied that the implementation process is on schedule to date, there are further targets to be met in the remaining period of the plan. The reorganised reserve, which as I have mentioned will be launched on 1 October 2005, is a crucial milestone in the implementation process and this will provide the necessary platform for implementation of other aspects of the plan. The development of the integrated element of the reserve as well as the development of policies to support the selection of suitably qualified reserve personnel for overseas duties, are important elements of the plan that require continued work in order to meet their implementation target dates. Additionally further implementation targets for the equipment and training programmes have to be met over the lifetime of the plan.