Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Defence the steps he will take to enhance the role of the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23781/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Reserve Defence Force's most important contribution, as outlined in the White Paper on Defence, is to support the Permanent Defence Force in its contingency defence roles in an emergency situation. In peacetime, the main function of the RDF centres on training and preparing for these contingency roles.

The Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan, which was formally launched in July 2004 and will continue over the period to end 2009, sets out an ambitious programme of change that will result in the Reserve Defence Force having enhanced capabilities and improved interoperability with the Permanent Defence Force. To date the Reserve has been re-organised along similar lines to the Permanent Defence Force with a three Brigade structure and Reserve Defence Force Training authority as well as a dedicated Naval Service Reserve. Improved training, equipment and clothing are also provided for in the plan and to date significant advances have occurred.

The plan also provides for the development of an element of the Reserve, known as the Integrated Reserve, which will comprise Reserve personnel who will train with PDF units and operate as part of those units in contingency situations. This aspect of the plan is currently being addressed and pilot schemes will commence in 2007.

Another important recommendation was that Reserve personnel should be afforded the opportunity to serve on overseas peace support missions. While there are no immediate plans for participation by members of the Reserve in overseas missions, policies to support the selection of suitably qualified personnel for overseas duties will be developed over the lifetime of the implementation plan. Any such participation by members of the Reserve is likely to be in specialised areas such as medical, transport, engineering and communications and information services. This will also be subject to personnel having suitable qualifications, their personal availability and appropriate advance training. The legislative changes required will be addressed in due course.