Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 236: To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which the Reserve Defence Forces have increased or decreased in numbers in the past five years, on a yearly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26331/08]

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 from 2003 to 2007 inclusive is as follows:

The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) comprises the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve. As of 31 May 2008, the number serving in the Army Reserve is 7,918 and in the Naval Service Reserve is 298.

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.