Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 365: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans for the future of the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16576/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The White Paper on Defence 2000 outlines the blueprint for the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). The Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan provides for the phased enhancement of Reserve capabilities over the period to the end of 2009.

In accordance with the Plan, revised organisation structures came into effect in October 2005. The Reserve has been re-organised along similar lines to the PDF with three brigades, a Reserve Defence Force Training Authority and a dedicated Naval Service Reserve. Improvements in clothing, equipment and training have been delivered. These factors were identified as being important issues for members of the Reserve, as well as being necessary to improve the overall capability of the Reserve.

The Implementation Plan also provides for the development of an Integrated Army Reserve. A pilot scheme for the Integrated Reserve was run in 2007 and continued into 2008. Whilst numbers participating were disappointing, valuable lessons have been learned.

As with the public service generally, the Defence Organisation is required to operate with reduced funding. While the budgetary provision for training of members of the Reserve has been reduced, it will be sufficient to allow all current members of the Reserve to undertake paid training this year.

The Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service with effect from 27th March 2009. This moratorium prevents the planned recruitment of members of the Reserve to the Permanent Defence Force for the purpose of overseas service. This, in addition to budgetary restrictions has meant that the planned deployment of Reservists on overseas duty cannot now proceed and has been postponed for the foreseeable future. This is a disappointing development for all concerned and I would specifically like to thank those members of the Reserve who have participated in integrated training and volunteered themselves as candidates for overseas service for the interest and commitment they have shown. In light of the moratorium and budgetary restrictions, recruitment to the Reserve has also been suspended for the present.

The Reserve Defence Force has been selected as a review topic for inclusion in the 2009 – 2011 round of the Government's Value for Money and Policy Review initiative. It is expected that the findings of this review, the general budgetary situation together with lessons learned through the RDF Review Implementation Plan process, will assist in informing decisions regarding future plans for the Reserve.