Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 444: To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding members of the Reserve Defence Forces who wish to serve abroad; if he expects that such personnel will be able to serve abroad during 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18118/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The plan to deploy members of the Reserve Defence Force on overseas peace support operations has been postponed for the foreseeable future. The Government has 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. In addition, reductions in the Defence payroll budget have limited the scope for payment of additional personnel. For these reasons the planned deployment cannot now proceed.

The pilot project to send a small number of Reservists overseas by end 2009 was at an advanced stage and this is a disappointing development for all concerned. 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. I will ensure that this project is re-visited as soon as circumstances permit.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 445: To ask the Minister for Defence the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to fully execute the Reserve Defence Forces implementation plan by the 2009 target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18119/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Reserve Defence Force Review implementation Plan provides for the phased enhancement of the Reserve over the period from 2004 to end 2009. Significant progress has been made to date in implementing the plan. The Reserve has been re-organised along similar lines to the Permanent Defence Force, there has been increased investment in the Reserve with new equipment and clothing and opportunities for improved training. Pilot schemes for the introduction of the Integrated Reserve were conducted in 2007 and 2008 and plans to send members of the Reserve overseas by end 2009 were at an advanced stage.

As the Deputies will be aware, the Government has introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service with effect from 27th March 2009 and as with the public service generally, the Defence Organisation is required to operate with reduced funding for 2009. In this context all recruitment to the Reserve has been suspended for the present.

The moratorium and reduced budgetary provision have also prevented the recruitment of members of the Reserve to the Permanent Defence Force for the purpose of overseas service and this project has been postponed for the foreseeable future. This is a disappointing development for those members of the Reserve who had volunteered as candidates for overseas service and I would like to thank them for the dedication and interest that they have shown. While the budgetary provision for the 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.