Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for Defence the proposals, in regard to Reserve Defence Force members taking part in overseas operations, he has in regard to those members' income being maintained while overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21723/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The White Paper on Defence outlines the blue print for a new Reserve Defence Force. This blueprint outlined a new Reserve with a clearly defined role, an enhanced relationship with the PDF, better equipment and training and opportunities for reservists to serve on overseas peace support missions.

An Implementation Plan has been developed that will ensure the realisation of the White Paper vision. The Plan is being rolled out over the period to the end of 2009. There has been significant progress to date in implementing the detailed recommendations of the Plan e.g. new organisation structure implemented, major improvements in clothing, equipment, training and resourcing. In addition, the Reserve is now organised along similar lines to the PDF and the development of the integrated element of the Reserve is in its second year. All of these changes are enhancing the capabilities of the Reserve as well as improving interoperability with the PDF. These factors are significant enablers in facilitating future participation by Reserve personnel in overseas missions.

There are no plans for participation by members of the Reserve in overseas missions in the current year. However, it is hoped that a small number of Reservists will be available to serve overseas by the end of next year. As specified in the 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. Any such commitment to overseas service by personnel from the Reserve will be on a voluntary basis.

As the numbers of personnel from the Reserve who are likely to serve overseas will be small, it is anticipated that the required numbers of Reservists can be met, for initial deployments, from personnel with personal circumstances that enable them to commit to such service. The conditions on which these initial personnel serve overseas will be established before any deployment takes place.

There may be a variety of factors that impact on the availability of some members of the Reserve to commit to overseas service, including concerns regarding their employment. All options that impact on achieving the required numbers of Reservists with appropriate skill-sets for overseas service, will be considered on foot of the lessons learned from initial overseas deployments.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 357: To ask the Minister for Defence if the reservists in integrated units will be trained in the use of heavy artillery and all other military equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21830/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Reserve Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan provides for the development of an Integrated Army Reserve. A pilot scheme for the Integrated Reserve was commenced in 2007 and this scheme has been extended into 2008.

The military authorities have advised me that members of the RDF are trained in all military equipment appropriate to their corps and rank in accordance with the Annual Training Directive and the relevant corps syllabi as issued by Director of Defence Forces Training. Reservists in integrated artillery units are trained in artillery weapons.