Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 361: To ask the Minister for Defence the strength of the Army, Navy and Air Corps Reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10181/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve. As at 31 January 2009, the number serving in the Army Reserve was 7,284 and the number serving in the Naval Service Reserve was 291.

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 the end of 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 PDF.

These developments enhance the capabilities of the Reserve as well as improving interoperability with the PDF.