Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 22: To ask the Minister for Defence the number recruited into the Reserve Defence Force since 1 January 2008; the number who have retired in that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20159/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A breakdown of the number recruited into and discharged from the Reserve Defence Force since 1 January 2008 is in the form of a Tabular Statement. The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) comprises the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve. As of 31 March 2008, the number serving in the Army Reserve is 7,948 and in the Naval Service Reserve is 317. The White Paper on Defence outlines the blueprint for the RDF. An Implementation Plan has been developed to realise the White Paper vision and is being rolled out over the period to end 2009. The RDF has already seen significant improvements in terms of organisation, clothing, equipment, training and resourcing. It is now structured along similar lines to the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and the development of the integrated element of the Reserve is in its second year. All of these developments enhance the capabilities of the Reserve as well as improving interoperability with the PDF.